India outclassed New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20I of the five-match series at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, Maharashtra. With blazing knocks from Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh, India posted a massive total of 238/7 in 20 overs.
Abhishek smashed 84 off just 35 balls at the top of the order, while Rinku finished strongly with an unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries. Jacob Duffy (2/27 in 4 overs) was the most successful bowler for New Zealand.
In reply, New Zealand lost two quick wickets within the first nine balls. Glenn Phillips played a superb knock of 78 off just 40 balls. Mark Chapman and Tim Robinson supported him, but their efforts were not enough as New Zealand fell short by 48 runs.
With this victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the series.
India go all-out after New Zealand bowl first
After New Zealand chose to bowl, India came out with an ultra-aggressive plan. All of India’s top five batters started their innings with a boundary. However, Abhishek caused the most damage and stayed at the crease the longest.
He struck five fours and eight sixes, tearing into both pace and spin. Rinku’s calm yet powerful innings at the end helped India post a total that was safe even with the dew setting in.
Early blows leave New Zealand in trouble
Chasing a massive target, New Zealand suffered an immediate collapse. They lost their first two wickets with just one run on the board. Glenn Phillips later fought back with a superb knock, but once he was dismissed, the result was almost certain.
India’s only concern from the match was Axar Patel’s injury. He hurt his index finger on his bowling hand while trying to stop a shot from Phillips and did not return to the field.
Action-packed powerplay sets the tone
The opening six overs were full of action. Abhishek began with a straight six off Jacob Duffy in the first over. Sanju Samson followed with a pulled four off Kyle Jamieson and added another boundary three balls later. Jamieson, however, struck back as Samson was caught at short midwicket.
Ishan Kishan, playing his first T20I in more than two years, marked his return with a first-ball four straight over the bowler’s head. His stay was brief, though, as Duffy dismissed him with a slower ball.
At 27 for 2 in the third over, India were still attacking. Abhishek continued to deal in sixes, hitting four in the powerplay. Suryakumar Yadav supported him with crisp boundaries, taking India to 68 for 2 after six overs.
Abhishek dominates spin attack
New Zealand turned to spin after the powerplay, but that only helped Abhishek. He cut Ish Sodhi for four and then collected three more sixes off Glenn Phillips’ bowling.
Abhishek raced to his fifty in just 22 balls. It was the fastest half-century by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is, breaking the previous record held by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.
Suryakumar also found his rhythm, hitting back-to-back fours off Sodhi, including his trademark ‘Supla’ shot. Just as he looked set, Mitchell Santner had him caught at long-on for 32 off 22 balls.
No mercy from Abhishek
Abhishek continued his assault by launching Santner over deep square leg. He then smashed two more sixes off Sodhi. While attempting another maximum, he was caught at wide long-on, ending a breathtaking innings.
Rinku finishes in style
Hardik Pandya added a useful 25 off 16 balls, but New Zealand’s bowlers used slower deliveries to remove him, along with Shivam Dube and Axar Patel.
With 13 balls left, Rinku Singh took charge. He faced only one ball in the 19th over but kept the strike in the final over. Rinku hammered Daryl Mitchell for two fours and two sixes in a 21-run over, ensuring India finished strongly.
New Zealand’s chase never settles
New Zealand’s reply began poorly. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Devon Conway in the first over, with Sanju Samson taking a brilliant one-handed catch. Conway has now fallen to Arshdeep in all four T20Is between the two.
From the other end, Hardik Pandya removed Rachin Ravindra for 1. Tim Robinson and Glenn Phillips took New Zealand to 50 at the end of the powerplay, but Varun Chakravarthy struck in the seventh over to dismiss Robinson.
Phillips fights alone
With the required run rate climbing above 14, Glenn Phillips kept New Zealand in the game. He hit multiple sixes off Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel and reached his fifty in 29 balls.
Phillips was also severe on Shivam Dube, smashing a huge 105-metre six over deep midwicket. However, while going for another big hit off Axar, he mistimed the shot and was caught at long-on.
At that point, New Zealand needed 108 runs from just 6.3 overs. Mark Chapman’s 39 off 24 and Daryl Mitchell’s 28 off 18 reduced the gap slightly, but the defeat remained heavy.