India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, left, and teammate Abhishek Sharma (AP/PTI)
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has responded to social media trolls after his prediction that a target of 170-plus would be difficult to chase in Wellington was made to look off the mark by India's explosive batting against New Zealand in the third T20I on Tuesday.During New Zealand's innings, Chopra had taken to X to suggest that chasing a total above 170 would be challenging on the Wellington pitch.
"Looks like 170+ will be a tough chase today.," he wrote.
Aakash Chopra's post
However, India made light work of the 199-run target, reaching 202/4 in just 13.2 overs to register a six-wicket victory and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The result sparked reactions on social media, with Chopra facing trolling over his assessment.Responding in a video on ESPNcricinfo, Chopra defended his post, joking that he had been referring to the possibility of India completing the chase in just 10 overs."I think people should stay away from Twitter because it tends to bring the worst out of all of us. I tweeted this and I was referring to a 10-over run chase he said jokingly. That it is a little tough to chase it down in just 10 overs. And see, I was right," he said on ESPNcricinfo.
Chopra then explained why he had initially felt that the target would be difficult to chase, pointing to the movement on offer during New Zealand's innings. He also acknowledged how India's batting line-up had overwhelmed the conditions."On a very serious note, what exactly is happening? If you were to see the first few overs, the ball was darting around. There was movement off the surface. And I thought 170-plus...
The commentators were saying, 'It is a tricky surface. There is some sideways wind as well.' They made a mockery of it. That's what this Indian batting team is doing."India's stunning chase was powered by Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 113 off just 38 balls, including a half-century in 15 deliveries and a century off 35 balls. His innings featured 11 sixes and nine boundaries.
At the other end, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hammered 45 off 18 balls as the opening pair added 133 runs in just seven overs.
Their assault helped India post a record 118 runs in the Powerplay, the highest total in the first six overs of a T20 innings.Earlier, Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 89 off 52 balls had helped New Zealand reach 198/3 in their 20 overs. However, India's openers dismantled the bowling attack to complete one of the most emphatic chases of the series.The victory also secured India's third consecutive T20I series win on New Zealand soil, following their 5-0 triumph in 2020 and 1-0 success in 2022.