Nagpur, January 21, 2026 – In a high-octane series opener at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, India kicked off their five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a commanding 48-run victory. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 84 off just 35 balls set the tone for India’s mammoth total of 238/7, while a disciplined bowling effort restricted the Kiwis to 190/7 despite a valiant 78 from Glenn Phillips. With this win, India takes a 1-0 lead in the series, showcasing their depth and firepower ahead of defending their T20 World Cup title.
India’s Power-Packed Batting Display
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field first, hoping to exploit early conditions. However, India’s openers had other plans. Sanju Samson started aggressively with two boundaries but fell early for 10 off 7 balls, caught by Rachin Ravindra off Kyle Jamieson. Ishan Kishan followed suit, smashing two fours before being dismissed for 8 off 5 balls by Jacob Duffy.
It was then that Abhishek Sharma unleashed a barrage of strokes that left the Kiwi bowlers reeling. Partnering with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek built a crucial 99-run stand for the third wicket. His innings was a masterclass in clean hitting: 5 fours and 8 sixes, boasting a strike rate of 240.00. He reached his fifty in just 22 balls and looked set for a century before being caught by Jamieson off Ish Sodhi in the 12th over.
Suryakumar contributed a steady 32 off 22 balls (4 fours, 1 six) before holing out to Tim Robinson off Santner. Hardik Pandya added 25 off 16 (3 fours, 1 six), and Shivam Dube smashed a quick 9 off 4 with a six, but both fell trying to accelerate.
The real fireworks came from Rinku Singh, who walked in at No. 7 and bludgeoned an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes). His late assault, alongside Arshdeep Singh’s unbeaten 6 off 6, propelled India past 230. The innings featured key milestones: 50 runs in 4.5 overs, 100 in 8.4, and 200 in 17.2. Extras contributed 15 runs (1 lb, 14 wides).
Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Samson, 1.5 ov), 2-27 (Kishan, 2.5 ov), 3-126 (Yadav, 10.4 ov), 4-149 (Sharma, 11.6 ov), 5-166 (Dube, 13.4 ov), 6-185 (Pandya, 15.4 ov), 7-209 (Axar Patel 5 off 5, 17.5 ov).
New Zealand’s Bowling Struggles
The Kiwi attack bore the brunt of India’s aggression. Jacob Duffy was the pick with 2-27 in 4 overs (econ 6.75), claiming Kishan and Pandya. Kyle Jamieson also took 2-54, while Kristian Clarke (1-40), Ish Sodhi (1-38), and Mitchell Santner (1-37) picked up one each. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell leaked runs at 20.00 and 21.00 economy respectively. Overall, New Zealand conceded at 11.90 runs per over, with the powerplay yielding 68/2 for India.
New Zealand’s Chase Falls Short Despite Phillips’ Heroics
Chasing 239, New Zealand’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Devon Conway was caught behind for a two-ball duck off Arshdeep Singh. Rachin Ravindra managed just 1 off 5 before falling to Hardik Pandya. Tim Robinson provided some resistance with 21 off 15 (2 fours, 1 six) but was dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy.
Glenn Phillips then launched a counterattack, smashing 78 off 40 balls (4 fours, 6 sixes) at a strike rate of 195.00. He shared a 79-run partnership with Mark Chapman (39 off 24, 4 fours, 2 sixes) for the fourth wicket, bringing New Zealand back into contention. However, Chapman’s dismissal by Chakravarthy in the 15th over shifted momentum.
Phillips was eventually caught by Dube off Axar Patel in the 14th over. Daryl Mitchell added 28 off 18 (4 fours), but Shivam Dube struck twice in the 20th over, removing Mitchell and Clarke (0 off 1) to seal the deal. Santner remained unbeaten on 20 off 13 (2 fours), with Jamieson 1* off 2. Extras: 2 (wides).
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Conway, 0.2 ov), 2-1 (Ravindra, 1.3 ov), 3-52 (Robinson, 6.3 ov), 4-131 (Phillips, 13.3 ov), 5-143 (Chapman, 14.5 ov), 6-189 (Mitchell, 19.3 ov), 7-189 (Clarke, 19.4 ov).
The Kiwis reached 50 in 5.6 overs and 100 in 11.3 but couldn’t sustain the required rate of over 11.95. Powerplay: 50/2.
India’s Bowling Masterclass
India’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout. Varun Chakravarthy (2-37 in 4 overs) and Shivam Dube (2-28 in 3) were the standout performers. Arshdeep Singh (1-31 in 4), Hardik Pandya (1-20 in 2), and Axar Patel (1-42 in 3.3) chipped in with key wickets. Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless (0-29 in 3), but the unit’s economy rates kept New Zealand in check. Abhishek Sharma even bowled 0.3 overs for 3 runs.
India’s fielding had lapses – two dropped catches and a missed run-out – but it didn’t cost them the game. Debutant Kristian Clarke for NZ.
Key Performances and Match Notes
- Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma – 84 (35), plus two catches.
- Standout Batsman (IND): Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive start and Rinku Singh’s finishing touches.
- Standout Batsman (NZ): Glenn Phillips’ fighting 78 kept hopes alive.
- Milestones: India’s 238/7 is their highest T20I total against New Zealand. The match saw a slow over-rate penalty for NZ in the final overs.
- Debut: Kristian Clarke (NZ).
This victory underlines India’s batting depth and sets a strong tone for the series. The teams now head to the next T20I, where New Zealand will look to bounce back. Stay tuned for more action!
