India send statement with Guwahati rout

India's bowlers set up their series-clinching win in Guwahati against New Zealand, but it was their batting unit that once again hit the headlines with just a few days to go for the T20 World Cup. In a heavily one-sided clash, India's batters made a mockery of the run chase to flatten New Zealand. Chasing 154, they knocked off 94 runs in just the powerplay before getting the job done by the end of the 10th over following fifties from Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.

India opted to chase after winning the toss, with Jasprit Bumrah returning to strengthen the bowling attack. Ravi Bishnoi also made his way back into the XI after almost a year, replacing Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy. India made an ideal start, striking twice in the opening two overs. Hardik Pandya was involved in both wickets, taking a catch to dismiss Devon Conway off Harshit Rana, before Rachin Ravindra found a fielder in the deep next over.

New Zealand didn't slow down, aware no total might challenge India's in-form batting. Glenn Phillips hit a boundary first ball and raced to 12 off 5, but Bumrah knocked over Tim Seifert's stumps first ball after being introduced. Mark Chapman and Phillips guided New Zealand to 75 at the halfway point with boundaries off Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube.

However, India continued to make inroads in the second half. Bishnoi picked up a couple of wickets, including the well-set Phillips, and Hardik removed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell, reducing New Zealand to 112/6. Skipper Mitchell Santner dragged New Zealand past 150 before Bumrah dismissed him in the final over.

Chasing 153, India lost Sanju Samson first ball for a golden duck. Ishan Kishan continued his form, hitting his second and third deliveries for sixes. Abhishek got going in the following over as India reached 32/1 after two overs. Ish Sodhi was introduced early and removed Ishan, but that was New Zealand's last respite.

Abhishek went berserk, taking 22 runs off Jacob Duffy in the final over of the powerplay to bring up India's second-fastest T20 fifty off just 14 balls. With over 60% of the target wiped out, the game was as good as gone. Santner and Sodhi bore the brunt as Abhishek and Suryakumar toyed with the attack, with Suryakumar bringing up his second consecutive half-century.

Brief scores: New Zealand 153/9 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 48; Jasprit Bumrah 3/17, Ravi Bishnoi 2/18) lost to India 155/2 in 10 overs (Abhishek Sharma 68*, Suryakumar Yadav 57*) by 8 wickets.