India posted a mammoth 238/7 in 20 overs in the first T20I of the five-match series in Nagpur. The home side rode on an exceptional batting display from opener Abhishek Sharma who hammered a 22-ball fifty for the team to put up a big total.
India lost Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan early in the innings but Abhishek along with captain Suryakumar Yadav showed resistance and stitched a 99-run stand for the third wicket. Abhishek chipped in with 84 off 25, missing out on a well-deserved hundred.
Not making a sheep joke here, but NZ have really thrown Mitchell to the wolves here #INDvsNZ
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) January 21, 2026
– Abhishek Sharma: 84(35)
– Rinku Singh: 44(20)
– Suryakumar Yadav: 32(22)
– Hardik Pandya: 25(16)India Set Highest Score against New Zealand.🔥
Now New Zealand need 239 runs to win. 🥶pic.twitter.com/42jjqPDUxW
— Sam (@Cricsam01) January 21, 2026
🚨 HIGHEST TEAM SCORE FOR INDIA vs NEW ZEALAND IN T20I – 238/7 🤯💥 pic.twitter.com/r5hPGqAmaT
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 21, 2026
Innings Break!
A blistering start backed by a solid finish by #TeamIndia 🔥
Over to our bowlers now 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ItzV352h5X#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/dkKpQMjqc0
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026
Going, going, GONE! 🚀
🎥 Rinku Singh with a fabulous final flourish to power #TeamIndia to 2⃣3⃣8⃣/7 👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ItzV352h5X#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @rinkusingh235 pic.twitter.com/BGTv4m3NxD
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026
Surya struck 32 off 22 while all-rounder Hardik Pandya also played an important role and got 25 off 16. But it was Rinku Singh’s late surge that helped India in the final moments of the innings. Jacob Duffy scalped two wickets in 4 overs for New Zealand while Rinku Singh was unbeaten at 44 off 20.
WOW 😮
Sanju Samson with a superb one-handed screamer 👏
Perfect start with the ball by #TeamIndia 👌
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/ItzV352h5X#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @IamSanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/7U5NYZiPMI
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026
There’s the breakthrough 💪
Axar Patel with the wicket as the dangerous Glenn Phillips walks back ☝️
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/ItzV352OVv#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @akshar2026 | @IamShivamDube pic.twitter.com/FlycJvZoyf
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026
Into the attack….
…impact straightaway 😎Varun Chakaravarthy strikes as #TeamIndia have wicket no.3⃣👌
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/ItzV352OVv#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @chakaravarthy29 pic.twitter.com/oIbcHWLUzn
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026
Later, India struck early as Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya scalped a apiece and reduced New Zealand to 1/2 in the first two overs itself. While Glenn Phillips tried his best to keep New Zealand in the chase, the other batters couldn’t really made valuable contributions. The visitors were eventually restricted to 190/7 after Shivam Dube picked up two wickets in the last over. India won by 48 runs.
Also Read: India vs New Zealand: Abhishek Sharma Smashes 22-Ball Fifty; Fans Hail Number One T20I Batter
Covering sports for fun. Cricket in whites remains the first love—the kind that teaches patience, rewards nuance, and tells stories over five days rather than five seconds.
