As has been the case all through in Dubai, spin was far more durable to face than tempo.
Chasing a below-par rating, Rohit pulled the second ball of the innings for six and dominated a stand of 105 with fellow opener Shubman Gill.
New Zealand’s fightback was sparked by a shocking one-handed catch by Glenn Phillips – his third such seize of the event – at further cowl to dismiss Gill for 31.
Kohli, normally the grasp of those chases, went lbw to off-spinner Michael Bracewell and Rohit was stumped when advancing to left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra.
The partnership of 61 between Axar and Iyer was vital in steadying India, though each fell attempting to speed up. Iyer, having already been dropped, flicked to quick wonderful leg and Axar tamely punted to long-on to provide Santner and Bracewell an extra wicket every.
Nonetheless, the required run-rate was all the time below management. It solely ever nudged barely above a run per ball as Rahul remained calm, earlier than Hardik pumped a towering straight six with the profitable line in sight.
It was becoming that it was Jadeja, one other veteran of this period of Indian white-ball cricket, who flicked the profitable runs off his hip. New Zealand fought admirably, however that is their fourth defeat within the last of a white-ball occasion since 2015.
