Stats: Bowlers With Best Bowling Figures In NZ vs IND T20Is

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NZ vs IND: New Zealand are set to clash against a new-look team India led by Hardik Pandya at home. Recently, both teams were defeated in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022 and would be looking to get back on track in the shortest format. 

While New Zealand have maintained their core players for the series with only Martin Guptill and Trent Boult missing in notable names, team India have left out several regulars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah with the 2024 T20 World Cup preparations in mind. 

Here are the top 5 best bowling figures by bowlers in NZ vs IND T20Is. 

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#5. Jasprit Bumrah (3/12)

Jasprit Bumrah proved to be the difference in the 5th T20I at Mount Maunganui in 2020, where New Zealand were chasing 164 runs to win. Bumrah grabbed the first and most important wicket of Martin Guptill in his 1st over and finished with figures of 3/12 in 4 overs with a maiden to his name. New Zealand were halted to 156/9 as India won the match by 7 runs. 

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#4. Axar Patel (3/9)

Just last year in 2021, New Zealand were chasing 185 runs in 20 overs to win the 3rd T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. While Guptill scored a fifty opening the innings, the other 3 of the top 4 batters were dismissed by Axar Patel. Daryl Mitchell scored 5 runs while Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips were dismissed for a duck which completely finished the chances of the Kiwis successfully completing the chase. New Zealand were bowled out for 111 runs in 17.2 overs to lose the match by 73 runs. Axar Patel picked up 3 wickets for just 9 runs in his 3 overs. 

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#3. Trent Boult (4/34)

In the 2nd T20I at Rajkot in 2017, New Zealand posted a mammoth 196/2 in 20 overs with an unbeaten ton for Colin Munro. In reply, Indian openers Rohit Sharma (5) and Shikhar Dhawan (1) were dismissed in the 2nd over of the match by Trent Boult as India looked shaky. Boult also dismissed MS Dhoni and Axar Patel to take the win as India were halted to 156/7, losing the match by 40 runs. 

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#2. Daniel Vettori (4/20)

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori ranks 2nd on this list with his figures of 4/20 against India in a  group match in T20 World Cup 2007. India were chasing 191 runs to win, where Vettori grabbed important wickets of Gautam Gambhir (51), Robin Uthappa (0), Dinesh Karthik (17) and Irfan Pathan (11) to put New Zealand in a winning position. India managed 180/9 in 20 overs and remained 10 runs shy of the target. Vettori picked up 4 wickets for 20 runs in his 4 overs. 

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#1. Mitchell Santner (4/11)

New Zealand left-arm orthodox spinner Mitchell Santner ranks atop this list with his excellent performance in the Group match of the World T20 in 2016. While New Zealand were defending a meagre target if 127 runs, Santner picked up 4 wickets for just 11 runs in his 4 overs. All these wickets were off batters – Rohit Sharma (5), Suresh Raina (1), MS Dhoni (30) & Hardik Pandya (1). India were bowled out for just 79 runs in 18.1 overs as New Zealand won the match by 47 runs.