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One of the most anticipated tours of 2019 has come to a close. India won the ODI series with a comprehensive margin of 4-1 whereas New Zealand struck back in the T20Is and managed to get a 2-1 series win.
We saw some brilliant individual performances from both Indian and the New Zealand sides. India would be going home with a plethora of positives whereas the Kiwis will have to correct some issues before the Cricket World Cup starts later this year.
The T20 series between India and New Zealand was nothing short of amazing, especially the third game. Both New Zealand and India won a game apiece convincingly. But the decider was a close call, and the Kiwis managed to win by just four runs.
In this article, we will compile an XI comprising both Indian and New Zealand players who performed the best in the recently concluded series.
Openers: Colin Munro and Tim Siefert (wk)
The find of the tournament for New Zealand was the wicketkeeping batsman Tim Seifert. The 24-year-old bagged his first man of the series award after being the top scorer of the tournament with 139 runs off just 84 balls. The right-handed opener has scored the most fours and sixes in the T20 series and amasses an average of 46 with an exceptional strike rate of 173.
Colin Munro had a shaky start - however, he made up for it in the series decider. The left-handed hard hitter scored 118 runs at an average of 39.33 and was second in the list of top run-getters in the tournament. Munro was adjudged the man of the match in the series decider after scoring a brilliant 72.
Vijay Shankar
Who would have though Vijay Shankar would outperform Kane Williamson of all people? Shankar played just two matches at number 3, but it was enough for him to create an impact.
Shankar played a brilliant knock in the last ODI and carried on his form to the T20I series. The 28-year-old was treated as a specialist batsman and was not given a single over in the T20I series. He scored 84 runs at an average of 28 and a resounding strike rate of 155.
Colin de Grandhomme
Colin de Grandhomme has shown yet again why he is one of the most dangerous batsmen going on around the world. The all-rounder was surprisingly never given an over in the T20I series.
Thus he had more responsibility with the bat, and Colin just did that. Except in the first match, de Grandhomme was exceptional. He scored a quickfire 50 in the second match, giving the Kiwis a respectable score. He helped to propel the Kiwis from a good score to a great score in the third T20I.
Rishabh Pant
Although it was not a great series for him, Rishabh Pant would find himself in the T20 XI of the recently concluded series. The left-hander was crucial in sailing India to the shore in the second T20I and was brilliant in the short time he lasted in the third T20I. Pant scored 72 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 144.
Ross Taylor
Ross Taylor has been in good form as of late. However, this time the veteran had to take on a new role as a finisher. Taylor batted down from his usual batting position yet was brilliant with the bat. Rosco scored 79 runs in the three innings he batted at an average of 39.5 with a good strike rate of 138.6
Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya has been brilliant with either the bat or the ball. The elder Pandya scored a brilliant 26 off just 13 balls in the last T20I, almost helping his team to attain a hard-fought victory - but just fell short of it.
Pandya managed to be one of the top wicket-taker by scalping four wickets in three games.
Daryl Mitchell
The debutant Daryl Mitchell had an impressive start to his international career. Although Mitchell is known more for his batting than bowling, the Hamilton-born did not have a great series with the bat. Mitchell threw his wicket trying to escalate the scoring in the first match, was unfortunate in the second match. But he did well in the third match and scored 19 runs from just 11 balls, helping the Kiwis to cross the 200 run mark for the second time in the series.
However, Mitchell had an exceptional series with the ball in his hand, bagging four wickets, at an amazing average of just over 13. Mitchell's wickets include the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shankar, and MS Dhoni - three batsmen who have proved to be dangerous during run chases.
Mitchell Santner
Along with his teammate Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner also scalped four wickets in the recent T20 series. Santner dismissed the likes of Shankar, Shikhar Dhawan, and Pant. Santner had an economy of under nine which is decent considering the fact that this was a high scoring series.
Khaleel Ahmed
Khaleel Ahmed was expensive in the first and last matches of the series. However, the way he bowled during the death overs in the second T20I was impressive. His slower cutters are a thing of beauty, and as a reward, Ahmed inflicted four dismissals to the New Zealand side. The 21-year-old is a star for the future.
Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson has proved us that he is not just about pace - but also has guile. Rather than spraying deliveries at maximum pace, Ferguson used his control to create a tough time for the Indian batsmen in the two matches he played. Ferguson boasts an excellent economy of just over 6.5 and has three wickets in the series.
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