भारत vs न्यूजीलैंड, तीसरा टी-20 Commentary, Live Updates

That’s all from Guwahati! A lopsided affair, and with that, the fate of the series has been sealed. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is no such thing as a dead rubber, as every game presents an opportunity to learn, adapt, and fine-tune. The caravan now moves to Vizag for the fourth T20I of the series, to be played on Wednesday, 28th January, with the first ball scheduled for 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). As always, you can join us early for all the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Player of the Match - Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 17 from his 4 overs) says that he was keeping a close eye on how Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana were bowling and what was working for them. Mentions that when he came on, the ball was scuffed, so he had to quickly assess what his best option was. He adds that he is happy as long as he is able to contribute to the team, whether that is with the new ball or the old ball. From a team perspective, he feels flexibility is crucial and adapting to situations is key. On a personal note, he reflects that as a child, he only dreamt of playing one game for his country, but to have played for 10 years as a fast bowler is a feather in the cap. Adds that he has had to fight through aches, assumptions, and opinions along the way. He hopes the journey continues and is grateful for how far it has come.

The captain of India Suryakumar Yadav recalls that the freedom he received during his school days played a big role in shaping his cricket. He recalls how principals and teachers allowed him plenty of time away from classes during tournaments and exams, which helped him spend long hours at the ground learning the game. He also says that this is the brand of cricket they want to play and move forward with. Details that even if they are 20/3 or 40/4, they know how to bat. Credits the top three batters for the way they batted, which made his job pretty easy. On Bishnoi, SKY says that Ravi's plans are very clear, and he knows his strong points. Also mentions that when the chips are down, Bishnoi has always produced a notable performance for the team. Adds that it is good to have him in the side.

The captain of New Zealand Mitchell Santner gives credit to India’s bowling, saying they made things tough throughout. He admits that even after scraping together 153, they knew it was always going to be a challenge to defend. He describes it as a good wicket with a fast outfield but notes that the cutters held in the surface during the first innings. Losing three wickets in the Powerplay, he says, only made the task harder. In his view, it was a 180-190 kind of pitch. Looking ahead, Santner feels this series serves as good preparation for the upcoming World Cup. He points out that their opening World Cup game in Chennai against Afghanistan could present very different conditions, but believes experiences like these help define roles and give the group confidence moving forward.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Time for a quick word from Abhishek Sharma. On being asked about how he produces such quickfire knocks every now and then, he says that's exactly what his team wants from him. Admits that it is not easy to do it every time. When reminded that he was only a few balls away from breaking Yuvraj Singh’s record for the fastest fifty, Sharma says that record is simply impossible to beat. He adds that cricket can always surprise and all batters are in good form this series. Talking about his attacking approach, Sharma clarifies that he does not consciously look to go after the bowlers from the very first ball. Instead, he relies on his instincts, reads what the bowler might try to do to dismiss him, and plays accordingly. On stepping out and creating room, he explains that it is largely dictated by field placements. He says he only steps out when the leg-side field allows it, and if he gets that space, it opens up access to the entire off side.

An innings that never really took off! After being asked to bat first, New Zealand lost their top three inside the Powerplay, and that setback proved decisive. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman, after taking their time initially, tried to inject momentum but never quite found another gear against India's disciplined bowling through the middle phase. Mitchell Santner battled on, but the Kiwis were eventually folded for 153. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi starred with the ball for India, sharing five wickets between them and conceding just 35 runs across their combined eight overs.

Early blow, then total domination! It was a golden duck for Sanju Samson before the onslaught from India's top order took the wind out of the Kiwis' sails. Ishan Kishan launched the counterpunch before Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav joined the party. The back of the chase was broken inside the Powerplay itself, with the hosts racing to 94 runs in the first six overs, as Abhishek completed the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is, off just 14 balls. From there, it was a case of when, not if, as Suryakumar and Abhishek put on an exhibition in a 40-ball 102-run stand.

Dominant India make it 3-0! A win set up by the bowlers and then made to look like a stroll in the park by the batters. The men in blue gain an unassailable lead in the series. For New Zealand, it feels deflating for the bowling attack with the World Cup looming. They have struggled to find answers so far in the series to India's power-packed batting unit.

FOUR! That will do it! A juicy full toss, on off, Suryakumar Yadav stands tall and pulls it across, finding the gap yet again between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. India win by 8 wickets, with 60 balls to spare and also take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

FOUR! Goodness me, that's a seriously good shot. FIFTY FOR SURYAKUMAR YADAV! Off just 25 balls. Back-to-back half centuries for the Indian skipper. Full and wide outside off, Suryakumar collapses his back knee into the pitch and slogs it between the long on and deep mid-wicket gap for a boundary to get to his 23rd T20I half century.

Pitched on leg, full in length, Sharma clips it gently to deep mid-wicket and they stroll for a single.

A touch full, outside off, dragged across to long on for a single.

SIX! Into single digits now. Overpitched delivery from Phillips, on middle, Suyakumar Yadav clears the front leg, and tonks it powerfully over deep mid-wicket for a six.

From around the stump, GP floats one across the right-hander, outside off. Yadav tries to sweep, but misses as the ball bounces a bit.

Quicker through the air, full and around off, SKY drives it to deep cover for an easy single.

SIX! Dismissed out of the presence! Nicely flighted up on the leg stump line, full in length. Suryakumar Yadav dances down the track and smokes it downtown for another half a dozen runs.

FOUR! Where do you even bowl as a bowler? Flatter full toss, outside off, Yadav gets down on a knee, fetches the ball from outside off, and sweeps it through short fine leg for a boundary.

Length ball, on leg, Sharma backs away and works it through covers for a single.

FOUR! PUNISHED! He is toying around with the field now. Santner drags it down, short and outside off. Sharma plays with a flat bat and lofts it over the non-striker for a boundary, beating long on to his right.

Floats one on a fuller length, around middle. Suryakumar backs away, exposes the stumps and drives it through covers for a single.

SIX! Bread and butter for Abhishek! Sodhi bowls it right into the slot, full and outside off. Abhishek Sharma clears the front leg, gets under it properly and lofts it over long off for a cracking six. India need 32 from 72 balls.

Serves it full and on leg, Yadav walks a couple of steps forward, and whips off the pads to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller this time on the stumps, SKY whips it to the right of long on for a couple more.

Shortish ball, on off, Suryakumar rocks back and punches it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Top shot! Touch short, outside off, Suryakumar Yadav hangs back, waits on it and cuts it past backward point for another boundary!

FOUR! Finds the gap! Sodhi goes full and outside off, SKY drags his hands in front, gets down on a knee and sweeps it between the deep mid-wicket and deep fine leg fielders for a boundary.

FOUR! Played with ease and at will. Santner drops it full and outside off, Abhishek Sharma accepts the width gleefully. Leans on the front foot, and lofts it over extra cover for a boundary.

Loopy ball, drifting in, on middle and leg. SKY knocks it to long off for a single.

A huge shout for LBW but that looked high! Speared in from around the wicket, on a nagging length, on off. SKY reaches out in front and gets low for the sweep. The ball bounces over the bat and hits the Indian skipper on the right shoulder. Santner has a word with the keeper. They don't look convinced but the Kiwi skipper makes a late decision to take the review. No bat or glove involved but the Ball Tracking has the ball going way over the stumps. New Zealand burn a review.

Full and on the stumps, Sharma charges down the track and toe ends it to long off for a single. 100 UP FOR INDIA IN JUST 6.3 OVERS!

Tosses it up nicely, full and around off, SKY drives it to the left of cover for a single.

FOUR! Uppish but through the gap! Short and it bounces up a bit, outside off, Suryakumar Yadav is taken aback by the lift, but he goes through the cut shot. Hits it a bit uppishly but it goes past the diving Jamieson at backward point for a boundary. Santner is livid as he expected a better effort from Jamieson.

SIX! Effortless! FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA! Off just 14 balls. His 8th in T20Is and this is also the second-fastest half century for India, only behind Yuvraj Singh, who holds the record of the fastest one in just 12 balls. Short and outside leg, Abhishek picks the length in a trice and pulls it massively over deep fine leg for a huge six. He has peppered every part of the ground and has left New Zealand absolutely clueless.

FOUR! Poor delivery and rightfully punished. Low full toss again, on off, Sharma obliges and just lofts it over cover for a boundary.

Full toss on leg, SKY flicks it to deep mid-wicket's right and they take a single. Abhishek is keen for the second run, but Suryakumar sends him back. Sharma is almost halfway down the pitch, but the throw arrives at the wrong end, to the bowler. This allows Abhishek to retreat safely.

SIX! There comes the trademark SKY shot! He has made it look so easy. Duffy bowls it way outside the off stump, on a fuller length. Suryakumar fetches it from outside off and effortlessly whips it over deep backward square leg for a huge six.

Slower bouncer, on leg, Abhishek backs away and taps the ball on its head and eases it wide of point for a quick run.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Pitched full and slow, outside leg, following Sharma who shuffles a long way across. Abhishek uses the bottom hand and chips it over extra cover for a boundary.

Abhishek was gone had the throw hit! Matt bowls it full, on middle, Abhishek uses his feet and firms the drive towards mid off. Santner swoops in, picks the ball up cleanly and fires in a throw at the bowling end but misses.

SIX! Hit with real authority! Henry goes into the surface but fails to get the short ball high enough to trouble the batter. It comes at chest height and Abhishek stands tall to pull it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Just out of reach! Henry takes pace off and bowls it on a nagging length, on middle. Abhishek charges down the track and despite not being to the pitch of the ball, he swings through. Skies it over wide mid off, where Santner turns around and goes after it. He slides and stretches his hands out in front but the ball evades him. Two runs taken.

Off-cutter, on a short of a length, on middle, SKY taps it in front of mid on and gets to the other end. Another direct hit but SKY is safe.

On a good length, on off, driven on the up by SKY to mid off.

Buzzers! Angled in, on a back of a length, on middle, Suryakumar turns it wide of mid-wicket and takes a single. A needless throw at the bowling end by Mitchell. He hits and the ball deflects away towards cover, allowing the batters to run one more.

Matt Henry (1-0-16-1) returns into the attack. He replaces Kyle Jamieson.

FOUR! A gift, and Abhishek Sharma does not miss out. Sodhi tries to push it through from the front of the hand. Ends up serving a juicy full toss, on middle. Sharma stays leg side and slams it back over the bowler's head for a four.

Shorter and on off, Yadav pats it wide of cover for a single.

Full and quick, on off, knocked to cover by the Indian skipper.

Flighted delivery, full and on middle and leg, SKY shimmies down the track to go over the top on the off side. Gets it off the inner half behind square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

Out goes Ishan, and in walks the Indian skipper. Suryakumar Yadav ​​​​​​comes in at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ishan Kishan could not have picked out the fielder any better. Pushed through from the front of the hand by Sodhi, flat and short, on middle. This skids through and Ishan crouches a bit to get it away. Fast hands from Kishan as he has a swipe across the line. Hits it flat and straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket. Chapman runs in off the ropes and gets low to take a fine catch. Ishan falls for a quickfire 28 (13). India are now 53/2.

FOUR! The 50 is up for India! A half-tracker from Sodhi first up, on middle. Ishan swings a bit too hard for the pull. The bat turns in his hand but he manages to get it away in front of square. Mark Chapman sprints and slides to his left in the deep but the ball bounces off his thigh into the fence.

16, 16, 17. The first three overs for India. This is effortless batting. And to slow things down a bit, Santner has tossed the ball to Ish Sodhi.

SIX! Simply superb! Jamieson looks to go full, on middle and leg. Sharma gets down the pitch and takes it on the full. He opens the bat face and slices it over cover for a six.

Wide! Jamieson goes back to the slower, short ball, on off. Abhishek gets his hands high to ramp it over the keeper. Wide given as the ball sailed over the batter's head.

FOUR! Scythed away! Jamieson nearly nails the yorker at the base of the off stump. Abhishek skips down the track and gets low. Takes it on the full and carves it over cover for a four.

Wide! At 120.3 kph, pace taken off, this is on a back of a length, down leg. Abhishek swings at it but misses.

This is full, around leg, Abhishek charges down the track and stays leg side of the ball. He lofts it over wide mid off for a couple of runs. A check for short run at the bowling end but Sharma had plonked his bat in before returning for the second run.

Good effort in the field! Kyle digs it in short, around the right shoulder. Ishan swings across for the pull but does not quite get hold of it. He gets it behind square. Devon Conway sprints and slides to his left to prevent the boundary. Just a single.

Loopy slower ball, low full toss, on off, Ishan mistimes the drive to cover.

Full and angling away, Ishan swings a bit too hard and loses his shape. Swipes it off the inner half to the left of mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

So just one over for Henry. Kyle Jamieson replaces him from this end.

FOUR! Nicely done! Banged in short, outside off. Abhishek knows that third man is inside the circle. He waits on it and glides it with an open bat face over short third. One bounce and over the ropes.

Full and outside off, smacked down to long on for one.

Skidding through, on a short of a length, Ishan hits it with a flat bat to mid off.

FOUR! Up and over! Full and pushed across the left-hander, Ishan reaches out and gets low. Ends up dragging it over mid on. One hand comes off the bat handle but he manages to clear mid on for a four.

Pace off, into the wicket, on middle. Abhishek tucks it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

SIX! Abhishek Sharma is up and running in trademark fashion. Shaping back in, on a length, on middle and leg. Sharma gives the bowler the charge and mows it over deep mid-wicket for a six to get off the mark.

That was a highly entertaining opening over. A first-ball wicket, two mammoth sixes and a boundary to follow next. Jacob Duffy will operate from the opposite end.

This is banged in short by Henry, over off, Ishan drops his wrists and sways away to let it go. End of an over that had everything. A wicket and 16 runs off it.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Too straight from Henry, around the hips, on a short of a length. Ishan helps it to the right of the man at short fine leg for a four.

SIX MORE! This is even bigger! Henry drags the length back, on middle. Kishan hangs on the back foot, perhaps expecting the short ball. Ishan nails the pull over deep square leg, into the second tier.

SIX! BANG! A strong response from Ishan Kishan. A wry smile from Matt Henry. Pitched up by Henry, on middle, Kishan crouches slightly and gets under the ball. Clubs it over deep mid-wicket to get his and India's innings going.

Goes past the bat! Decking away off the seam, on a good length. Ishan is squared up in defence and is beaten on the outside edge.

Samson couldn't get going three times in a row. With the scores of 10, 6 and now a golden duck, he has managed just 16 runs in this series. The pressure is mounting on him. Ishan Kishan walks in at number 3.

OUT! TIMBER! How about that for a start? Matt Henry strikes with his first ball. A golden duck for Sanju Samson. A wobble seam delivery, angled in, on a length, on leg. Samson takes a step back in the crease, outside the leg stump, and looks to clip it away on the leg side. The ball seams away a bit to beat him on the outside edge. It clips the back leg before deflecting onto the off pole. India are 0/1, chasing 154.