Pant arrived at the crease with the game all but won at 137-3 with four overs to go and only 17 runs required for victory. Nevertheless he finished the game in style with back-to-back sixes off Jimmy Neesham to finish on 12* off 6 balls.

The first six was struck on one-knee and high over deep mid-wicket, although it was the second six that really caught the eye as Pant skipped down the wicket to launch Neesham straight down the ground and slam the ball into the sight screen.

In what is now an almost trademark of Pant’s batting, as he struck the ball his bottom hand come off the bat meaning India passed New Zealand’s total with seven wickets still in hand and only one-hand on the bat.

The victory for India meant they have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with the third and final game of the series scheduled to take place in Kolkata on the 21st November.