Kudeep-Dhoni combo ends New Zealand's blazing opening stand

To be fair to Seifert, he hadn’t even dragged his foot outside the crease. It was on the line but that was enough for Dhoni. He needed less than a millisecond to whip the bails off and India had their first wicket.

The MS Dhoni and Kuldeep Yavad combination once again came to India’s rescue as it ended a threatening opening stand of New Zealand in the series-deciding third and final T20I at Hamilton on Sunday.

Sent in to bat by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Colin Munro, not for the first time in the series, gave a blazing start to the hosts, racing to 66 in the powerplay.

All the Indian seamers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed and Hardik Pandya - were taken to the cleaners and when Rohit turned to spin, Krunal Pandya gave away 20 runs in his first over.

The clueless Indian captain then turned to Kuldeep Yadav and it immediately brought success. In the fourth ball of the eighth over Kuldeep drew Seifert forward and spun the wrong’un past his bat. Dhoni was lightning quick behind the stumps. To be fair to Seifert, he hadn’t even dragged his foot outside the crease. It was on the line but that was enough for Dhoni. He needed less than a millisecond to whip the bails off and India had their first wicket.

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Seifert made his back to the pavilion for a well-made 43 off 25 balls and New Zealand had lost their first wicket for 80.

Kuldeep was playing his first match of the series, replacing fellow wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

India have an ideal opportunity to finish more than three months in Australia and New Zealand without a series defeat for the first time ever if they manage to win this T20I at Hamilton. A victory here will also help India equal Pakistan's world record for the longest undefeated run in T20Is (11 series). India are currently undefeated in 10 T20I series.