India vs New Zealand 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma’s Fireworks and Clinical Bowling Secure 48-Run Victory for India Nagpur— In a high-octane encounter at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, India kickstarted their final preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026 with a dominant 48-run victory over New Zealand. A record-breaking batting performance led by Abhishek Sharma and a disciplined bowling effort ensured the Men in Blue took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Match Summary: At a Glance
| Team | Score | Overs | Top Scorer | Best Bowler |
| India | 238/7 | 20.0 | Abhishek Sharma (84) | Varun Chakaravarthy (2/34) |
| New Zealand | 190/7 | 20.0 | Glenn Phillips (78) | Jacob Duffy (2/27) |
Result: India won by 48 runs.4 Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma.
The Abhishek Sharma Show: A Record-Breaking Blitz
After New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl, India faced early hiccups. Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (8) fell within the powerplay, leaving India at a precarious 31/2. However, what followed was a masterclass in modern T20 batting.
Abhishek Sharma, continuing his scintillating form, dismantled the Kiwi attack. He reached his half-century in just 22 balls, setting a new record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian against New Zealand. His partnership of 99 runs with captain Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) laid a massive foundation. Abhishek eventually departed for a brutal 84 off 35 balls, an innings decorated with 5 boundaries and 8 towering sixes.
Late Fireworks by Rinku Singh
When the middle order saw quick exits from Shivam Dube (9) and Hardik Pandya (25), the finishing duties fell on the shoulders of Rinku Singh. The left-hander lived up to his reputation, smashing an unbeaten 44 off just 20 deliveries. His late surge propelled India to 238/7, their highest-ever T20I total against New Zealand.
Detailed Scorecard: India Innings
Batting Performance
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Sanju Samson | c Ravindra b Jamieson | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 142.86 |
| Abhishek Sharma | c Jamieson b Sodhi | 84 | 35 | 5 | 8 | 240.00 |
| Ishan Kishan | c Chapman b Duffy | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | c Robinson b Santner | 32 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 145.45 |
| Hardik Pandya | c Chapman b Duffy | 25 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 156.25 |
| Shivam Dube | c & b Jamieson | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 225.00 |
| Rinku Singh | Not Out | 44 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 220.00 |
| Axar Patel | c Mitchell b Clarke | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Arshdeep Singh | Not Out | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
New Zealand Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Jacob Duffy | 4.0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 4.0 | 0 | 54 | 2 | 13.50 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4.0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 9.25 |
| Ish Sodhi | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
The Chase: New Zealand’s Brave Fightback
Chasing a mountain of 239, New Zealand’s start was catastrophic. Arshdeep Singh struck gold on the very first ball, dismissing Devon Conway for a duck. Shortly after, Hardik Pandya removed the dangerous Rachin Ravindra.
Despite the early losses, Glenn Phillips kept the Kiwis in the hunt. Phillips played a lone-warrior knock of 78 runs off 40 balls, taking a particular liking to the Indian spinners. He was ably supported by Mark Chapman (38 off 24), but the mounting required run rate eventually proved too much.
Turning Points in the Second Innings
Varun Chakaravarthy’s Spell: The mystery spinner broke the back of the Kiwi middle order by dismissing Tim Robinson and the settled Mark Chapman.
Axar Patel’s Breakthrough: Just as Phillips looked like he might pull off a miracle, Axar Patel induced a mistimed shot, caught safely by Shivam Dube.
The Final Over: Shivam Dube, tasked with the final over, picked up two wickets in two balls to finish the game clinically.
Detailed Scorecard: New Zealand Innings
Batting Performance
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Tim Robinson | c Dube b Chakaravarthy | 21 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Devon Conway | c Samson b Arshdeep | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rachin Ravindra | c & b Pandya | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Dube b Patel | 78 | 40 | 6 | 5 | 195.00 |
| Mark Chapman | c Sharma b Chakaravarthy | 38 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 158.33 |
| Daryl Mitchell | c Bishnoi b Dube | 23 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 109.52 |
| Mitchell Santner | Not Out | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Kristian Clarke | c Rinku b Dube | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kyle Jamieson | Not Out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Indian Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4.0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Hardik Pandya | 3.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
| Axar Patel | 3.3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 8.28 |
| Shivam Dube | 1.3 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 12.00 |
Road to the World Cup 2026
This victory is significant for India as it marks the beginning of their final T20I series before the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to start on February 7. With players like Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh firing on all cylinders, the Indian team management will be pleased with the aggressive brand of cricket being played.
However, there are areas for improvement. India’s fielding was uncharacteristically sloppy, with Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh dropping relatively easy catches. On a different day, these lapses could have cost the match.
Key Takeaways:
Abhishek Sharma is cementing his spot as a premier T20 opener.
Rinku Singh continues to be the most reliable finisher in world cricket.
Varun Chakaravarthy remains a vital asset in the middle overs with his wicket-taking ability.
What’s Next? The action now moves to the second T20I, where New Zealand will look to bounce back and level the series.