'Martin Crowe would be proud'

The India v New Zealand World T20 match, in tweets

15-Mar-2016

With the Super 10 phase starting, there was plenty of excitement around.

#SudarsanPattnaik creates a Sand Art on #WT20 at #Marina beach in Chennai Today.#T20WorldCup #WorldT20 pic.twitter.com/qgQVIjK1la
— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) March 15, 2016

There was a shock right at the toss, when New Zealand left out their established pace pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult and picked plenty of spinners.

3 spinners for New Zealand!!! I didn't know there were that many spinners in the entire country#IndvsNZ
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) March 15, 2016

The game got off to a cracking start as Martin Guptill slammed a straight six off the first ball before being dismissed off the second.

#IndvsNZ
Guptill played very well uptill the 2nd ball.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 15, 2016

Things seemed to be going the way of pre-tournament favourites India as even part-timer Suresh Raina got among the wickets.

Dhoni bringing on Raina to pick up Williamson wicket is like deliberately going to math exam without calculator and still getting 100/100.
— karachikhatmal (@karachikhatmal) March 15, 2016

Raina then produced a sensational bit of fielding to run out Ross Taylor.

Unfair that Raina has only 1 wicket to his name. That runout was purely his efforts.Brilliant flick back on to the stumps off balance #WT20
— Mohammad Kaif (@KaifSays) March 15, 2016

Jasprit Bumrah added to India's advantage with an over of five yorkers that also produced the wicket of the explosive Corey Anderson.

How good is this lad BUMRAH..!!?? #Outstanding #INDvNZ
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 15, 2016

New Zealand's batsmen were struggling, and most experts were backing India, though some raised questions about the turning track.

A bit disappointed with the pitch for the 1st match of the Super 10 #IndvsNZ #slowandlow #spinningsquare . What do you think?
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) March 15, 2016

New Zealand finished of 127, and a routine victory seemed on the cards for India. New Zealand's spinners had different plans. In his brother Brendon's absence, offspinner Nathan McCullum provided the perfect start.

A "McCullum" is doing it again against India!#IndvsNZ
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 15, 2016

Two early wickets meant it wasn't going to be easy for India.

Those two wickets make it a bit more interesting. Still backing India though. #WorldT20 #IndvsNZ
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) March 15, 2016

And the wickets kept tumbling as the Indian batting was exposed against spin.

Old jungle saying: pitch is the same for both teams! Looks like it's spinning both ways today! #IndvsNZ
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 15, 2016

New Zealand's three unheralded spinners took nine wickets between them to leave India facing a massive challenge in the tournament.

Spinners from New Zealand beating India in India. The world is genuinely flat!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 15, 2016

India broke some records, but not the sort they would have wanted to.

The target of 127 is the lowest ever India have failed to chase down in Twenty20 Internationals.#IndvsNZ #ICCWT20
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) March 15, 2016

MS Dhoni had some strong words about the batting after the game, as did the Twitterati.

It isn't just the defeat that hurts, or even the margin. It is the manner of dismissals. 9 out of 10 soft as soft can be #IndvsNZ
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) March 15, 2016

There were plenty of jokes, as ever.

I can definitely say that Dhoni is more loved in #Pak than in #Ind right now #IndvsNZ #WT20
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) March 15, 2016

Personally for this match I would have dropped Kohli, Dhawan, Rohit & Raina, disbanded BCCI, banned cricket and sold all cricket stadiums.
— INS Vadukut (@sidin) March 15, 2016

Some jokingly pointed to sartorial changes for India's defeat.

I think we should go back to the collared tshirts. That's the reason for this. #IndvsNZ #wt20
— mandira bedi (@mandybedi) March 15, 2016

Others were more philosophical

No better human activity than sport to make us kneel humbly & accept that life is an enigma & outcomes can't be predicted..#IndvsNZ
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 15, 2016

While some Indian fans looked for reasons to remain optimistic

Ind lost to NZ in the 2007 WT20 in their opener, went on to win the cup. No team that has won the cup has been unbeaten! #WT20 #Positives
— Srini Mama (@SriniMama16) March 15, 2016

Experts with a long memory recalled a game when New Zealand similarly upset a fancied home side.

1992 WC, Australia felt like overwhelming favorites in opening match. And yah, well, New Zealand happened. #WT20 #IndvsNZ
— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) March 15, 2016

The game had begun with a tribute to the late Martin Crowe. New Zealand's strategy was one that he would have approved of.

New Zealand brilliant. Out-of-the-box selection and terrific captaincy. Martin Crowe would be proud #indvnz #wt20
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 15, 2016

What a start to the #WT20 ,boys were fantastic. Spinners bowled beautifully. Congrats Mitchy on man of the match #NZ #backtheblackcaps
— Luke Ronchi (@ronchi04) March 15, 2016

New Zealand India India vs New Zealand World T20

Siddarth Ravindran is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. Twitter @SidRavindran