Photo: Collected
India have won by setting a record for their biggest T20 run chase on New Zealand soil. Four years ago, in 2022, India played in Christchurch under Shikhar Dhawan; the third ODI of that series was abandoned because of rain. This time the two teams met at the same venue in a T20, and rain did not get in the way.
India’s side has changed a great deal in four years. Shikhar Dhawan, the 2022 ODI captain, has quit international cricket; Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have bid farewell to international T20s and Tests. Abhishek Sharma, Naman Dhir, Mayank Yadav and Tilak Varma are playing in New Zealand conditions for the first time. So Abhishek, Tilak and co’s first match on Kiwi soil will be remembered for a win built on a record chase of 226.
In today’s first T20 of the series, India overhauled the target of 226 with 4 wickets in hand to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. India’s previous highest successful T20 chase in New Zealand conditions came in Auckland in 2020, when they chased down the Kiwis’ target of 204 with 6 wickets in hand.
In the chase, openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson attacked the Kiwi bowlers from the start, putting on 95 in 35 balls. Michael Bracewell broke that destructive stand by removing Abhishek with the fifth ball of the sixth over. The left-handed opener made 29 off 12 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes.
Abhishek’s dismissal triggered a mini collapse in India’s innings; in no time the visitors were 122 for 4 in 10.3 overs. That included the wicket of the explosive Samson — after making 67 off 33 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes, he was bowled trying to cut Mitchell Santner. Tilak (6) and Ishan Kishan (1) fell for single figures.
Captain Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel took on the job of handling this pressure. The two added 45 in 24 balls for the fifth wicket. Along the way Axar was dropped twice, on 13 and 23, though both catches were relatively difficult for the New Zealand fielders. On one occasion Santner was hurt quite badly, but it did not cause major damage.
Lockie Ferguson eventually removed Axar (24), who had been given two lives. Iyer was on his way to all but finishing the match, but it was not to be; Milne dismissed him with the first ball of the 19th over. That ended Naman and Iyer’s sixth-wicket stand of 43 in 23 balls. India needed 16 off the last 11 balls and got there with 2 balls to spare. Naman sealed the 4-wicket win by hitting Henry for six off the fourth ball of the last over.
India made 230 for 6 in 19.4 overs. Samson, whose 67 was the top score of the innings, was named player of the match. Naman also made 42, the same as Iyer; he played a blistering knock of 15 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. New Zealand’s Santner and Bracewell took two wickets each.
Earlier, having lost the toss and been sent in to bat, New Zealand made 225 for 4 in 20 overs. Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 82 off 40 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes, the team’s top score. India’s Mayank, Axar and Arshdeep Singh took one wicket each.
Background
The two sides’ last big contest was the final of this year’s T20 World Cup. According to a Times of Oman report, at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on 8 March, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in reply to India’s 255; India won by 96 runs to retain the title.
Background source: Times of Oman, 8 March 2026
