'Captain Oh Captain' - Mitchell McClenaghan tweets after Rohit Sharma’s heroics in Hamilton

It was a day of great heartbreak for New Zealand fans in the T20I series on Wednesday. First, seamer Mohammed Shami denied them two runs off four balls to see the match ending in a tie. And then in the super over, opener Rohit Sharma whacked two back-to-back sixes to seal the five-game series for India.

This is the first time that the Men in Blue have won a T20I series in New Zealand. The home team’s supporters were even more disappointed as captain Kane Williamson slammed a heroic 48-ball 95 to almost win it single-handedly for the Kiwis.

New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan came up with a tweet after the match that read “Captain oh Captain”. The 33-year-old’s post left the fans surprised and he was asked to clarify whether he was sympathizing with Williamson or Rohit, the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) — the franchise for which the left-arm seamer plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

McClenaghan obliged one fan who wanted him to clarify by replying “My four-time IPL winning captain”. To another, he clearly mentioned Mumbai. The Kiwi made his debut in the IPL in 2015, one year before he last played for his country, and has been playing in the tournament for the MI ever since.

In 56 matches so far, McClenaghan has taken 71 wickets at an average of 25.39 and an economy rate of 8.49. His best bowling figures in the IPL are 4 for 21.

Captain oh captain

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) January 29, 2020

My 4 time IPL winning captain

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) January 29, 2020

Mitchell McClenaghan has been part of three IPL-winning MI squads

McClenaghan was in fact a key member of the Rohit-led MI squads that won the IPL titles in 2015, 2017 and 2019. In international cricket, he has taken 112 wickets in 48 ODIs and 29 T20Is.

Coming back to Rohit, after missing out in the first two games after a match-winning hundred in the deciding ODI against Australia at home, he came back strongly in Hamilton. He belted 65 off 40 balls after India were asked to put into bat by Williamson and followed it with 15 not out in four balls to win the game for his team. Rohit was adjudged the man of the match.

New Zealand will look for their first win in the fourth match of the series which is in Wellington on Friday.