Key Highlights
- Skipper Shubman Gill looked fluent in his 56 off 53 balls, striking nine fours and a six, but his dismissal to Kyle Jamieson triggered a wobble.
- India slipped from 99 for one to 118 for four as Virat Kohli (23) was bowled and Shreyas Iyer (8) edged behind, both falling to Clarke, who exploited movement and bounce effectively in the middle overs to finish as New Zealand’s most successful bowler.
- With India in a spot of bother, Rahul held the innings together with remarkable composure.
- The wicketkeeper-batsman began cautiously, focusing on strike rotation and stability during a prolonged boundary drought.
- He brought up his half-century with a fortunate edge past third man before gradually expanding his strokeplay with crisp drives through extra cover, deft sweeps and assured footwork against the spinners.
