Hooda thus established an incredible record with the ball. His T20I bowling figures are now the best between India and New Zealand. Only Mitchell Santner, Daniel Vettori, and Trent Boult have taken four-wicket hauls in T20Is between the two teams.
Hooda’s fantastic spell also broke spinner Axar Patel’s previous best bowling figures by an Indian in T20Is between New Zealand and India of 3/9 in three overs.
Meanwhile, New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee took a hat-trick in the match, dismissing captain Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, and Washington Sundar in the 20th over. Southee’s hat-trick was his second in T20I cricket. Captain Kane Williamson scored the most runs for the hosts, hitting 61 off 52 balls.
Mohammed Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal each took two wickets for India, while Washington Sundar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each dismissed one batter. The decision to send Rishabh Pant to open the innings backfired as the wicket-keeper batter struggled against the new ball and was out after scoring 6 runs in 13 balls.
Pandya and company now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The third and final match of the series between New Zealand and India will take place on Tuesday, November 22.
