Date: January 25, 2026
Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
Toss: India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first, citing the dew factor.
In a one-sided 3rd T20I, India demolished New Zealand by 8 wickets with a staggering 10 overs to spare, chasing down 154 in just 10 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series. The highlight reel from JioHotstar captures the dominance: early breakthroughs by India’s bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah’s clinical spell, explosive batting from Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, thunderous sixes, spectacular catches, and record-breaking run-scoring.
New Zealand Innings: Early Collapse and Phillips’ Resistance (153/9 in 20 overs)
India’s bowlers struck immediately. Harshit Rana dismissed Devon Conway for 1 (caught by Hardik Pandya). Jasprit Bumrah bowled Tim Seifert for a duck. Hardik Pandya accounted for Rachin Ravindra (caught), and the top order crumbled quickly.
Glenn Phillips top-scored with 48 and formed useful partnerships, notably with Mark Chapman. However, India maintained pressure: Ravi Bishnoi took two wickets (Chapman and another), Hardik Pandya added Daryl Mitchell’s wicket with a sharp catch, and Bumrah returned to claim two more (Santner and Jamieson bowled). Matt Henry was run out in the final over via Ishan Kishan’s throw.
Key Bowling Figures (India):
- Jasprit Bumrah: 3/17 (4 overs) – Player of the Match
- Ravi Bishnoi: 2/18 (4 overs) – Impressive comeback
- Hardik Pandya: 2 wickets + spectacular diving catch in the first over
- Harshit Rana: 1 wicket
New Zealand managed only 153/9 on a pitch that offered early assistance but flattened later, leaving a below-par total. The JioHotstar highlights showcase the cluster of wickets, Bumrah’s yorkers, and sharp fielding.
India’s Record-Breaking Chase: Abhishek and Suryakumar Unleashed (155/2 in 10 overs)
The chase was sensational. Sanju Samson fell for a golden duck in the first over (bowled by Matt Henry). Ishan Kishan countered aggressively with 28 off 13 before falling to Ish Sodhi.
Then Abhishek Sharma exploded. He raced to a 50 off just 14 balls (second-fastest T20I half-century by an Indian) en route to 68* off 20 balls, smashing boundaries and towering sixes, including powerful pulls. Suryakumar Yadav joined seamlessly, scoring 57* off 26 balls with his trademark 360-degree shots, including a signature helicopter six.
Their partnership was electric: massive overs (17+ runs common), India reached 50 in the powerplay’s early stages and 100 around 6.3 overs. The powerplay score hit 94/2 at a run rate of ~15.67—one of India’s highest ever. The duo completed the chase in exactly 10 overs (60 balls remaining), triggering wild celebrations.
Key Records Set:
- Fastest T20I chase of a 150+ target by a full-member nation (surpassing previous benchmarks by a significant margin).
- India’s biggest victory margin against New Zealand in T20Is.
- Abhishek Sharma’s 14-ball fifty (2nd fastest for India); joint record for most rapid half-centuries (≤25 balls) alongside Suryakumar Yadav.
The highlights video brilliantly captures Abhishek’s sixes lighting up Guwahati, Suryakumar’s innovative strokes, the quick fall of early wickets, and the euphoric finish as India sealed the series with two games to spare.
Standout Performances & Series Context
- Jasprit Bumrah (Player of the Match): Masterclass with the new ball and death.
- Abhishek Sharma & Suryakumar Yadav: Match-winning fireworks; Abhishek joins elite company in record books.
- Hardik Pandya & Ravi Bishnoi: All-round impact and spin control.
- Ishan Kishan: Quick runs + sharp fielding/run-out.
India extended their dominant home T20I form (ninth successive series win), while New Zealand missed several key players and struggled against disciplined bowling and fielding.
This match will be remembered for India’s clinical bowling followed by batting pyrotechnics that made light work of the target.
