Nagpur, January 21, 2026 — A blistering knock by Abhishek Sharma guided India to a commanding 48-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20 International at Nagpur on Wednesday, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the series.
Batting first after winning the toss, India posted a massive 238 runs, their highest-ever T20I total against New Zealand. Despite losing a couple of wickets early in the Powerplay, Abhishek Sharma took complete control of the innings with a brilliant 84-run knock. He was well supported by Suryakumar Yadav, who showed encouraging signs of returning to form. The duo laid a solid foundation with a 99-run partnership that shifted momentum firmly in India’s favour.
Contributions from Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh in the latter stages ensured India maintained the scoring rate and capitalized on a New Zealand bowling attack that struggled to apply sustained pressure. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner later admitted that the bowlers were under pressure throughout the innings and noted that the surface made it difficult, especially in the death overs.
Defending a daunting target, India struck early with the ball as Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya removed Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra inside the first two overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy controlled the middle overs effectively, keeping the required run rate out of reach. Glenn Phillips fought hard for New Zealand, while Mark Chapman struggled to find momentum early on.
Despite a few lapses in the field, India delivered a comprehensive performance with both bat and ball. New Zealand, meanwhile, will reflect on their expensive bowling display as they look to bounce back in the next match.