India kicked off their five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a commanding 48-run victory Wednesday, January 21, 2026. This win, at Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, was powered by Abhishek Sharma’s sensational 84 runs off just 35 balls. The world’s top-ranked T20I batter dismantled the Black Caps’ bowling attack, setting the tone for India’s 238/7 total. New Zealand, chasing 239, finished at 190/7.
This result shows India’s serious intent ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. They’re defending champions, playing on home soil. This series is all about finding that rhythm. India’s T20I record since winning the 2024 World Cup is fantastic: 29 wins from 36 matches. They came into this series as the world’s best side, and they played like it.
Sharma’s Record-Breaking Blitz Leads India’s Charge
Abhishek Sharma was the star of the show. He hit eight sixes and five fours, making scoring look easy. He reached his fifty in a mere 22 balls, setting a new record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian against New Zealand. He beat the old mark, held by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, by a ball, according to Times of India. This was his eighth T20I fifty overall, putting him above names like Suryakumar Yadav and Phil Salt. NDTV called him someone “who has made it a habit of lighting up the evenings in stadiums across the cricketing globe with his array of monstrous hits.”
India’s innings started fast with Sharma and Sanju Samson (10). But Samson and Ishan Kishan (8) fell quickly. Then Sharma continued his assault. He played with a straight bat, finding gaps New Zealand bowlers couldn’t cover. Later on, Rinku Singh provided a crucial finish, smashing 44 not out from 20 balls. He made sure India reached a massive total on what was described as a “Jamtha shirt-front” pitch by Indian Express.
New Zealand’s Chase Fades Despite Phillips and Chapman
New Zealand’s chase of 239 started terribly. They lost two wickets for just one run in the first nine deliveries. Devon Conway was gone for a duck, caught by Samson off Arshdeep Singh. Rachin Ravindra followed soon after. Tim Robinson (21) and Glenn Phillips then built a 51-run partnership for the third wicket. Phillips kept the scoring going, reaching 50 himself.
He found support from Mark Chapman, who joined him for a 79-run stand. Phillips scored 78 off 40 balls, Chapman 39 off 24. They gave New Zealand a small glimmer of hope. But once they fell, the chase unraveled. Daryl Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner added some late runs, but 190/7 was well short. Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube each grabbed two wickets for India, keeping the pressure on.
Team India’s Depth on Display for World Cup Prep
This match also marked Suryakumar Yadav’s 100th T20I. He captains a team that looks deep and ready for the World Cup. Ishan Kishan returned at No. 3, his first T20I since November 2023, filling in for the injured Tilak Varma. Captain Yadav confirmed Ishan’s inclusion before the game. “We were looking to bowl first because we felt there was dew around 8:30pm during our practice,” Suryakumar Yadav said after the toss. “But we don’t mind putting runs on the board and we have done well batting first.” He also mentioned Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravi Bishnoi missing out. New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, featured debutant pacer Kristian Clarke. They’d won the recent ODI series 2-1 against India, but this T20I was a different ball game.
India’s bowlers, with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, restricted New Zealand effectively. The win means India takes a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma’s form, along with Rinku’s finishing power and the all-round depth of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, sends a clear message. This Indian team is looking sharp for the upcoming World Cup. New Zealand, despite their recent ODI success, will need to regroup fast. They face a powerful Indian side that seems to have all bases covered, as Hindustan Times reported.
Govind Singh 
Baishali Karmakar 
Annsly Raena