India crushed New Zealand by 8 wickets in the third T20 International at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, on January 25, 2026, completing a 3-0 series clean sweep.
New Zealand batted first and posted a competitive total of 153/9 in 20 overs, with Glenn Phillips top-scoring with 48 runs. India’s bowling unit, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3/17), along with Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi (2/18), restricted the Kiwi lineup effectively.
Chasing 154, India demolished the target in just 10 overs, winning with 60 balls to spare, marking one of the fastest successful chases of a 150+ target in T20Is.
Star Performances and Key Stats
| Category | Details |
| Top Batter (India) | Abhishek Sharma – 68* off 20 balls (explosive innings with multiple boundaries and sixes) |
| Key Support Batter | Suryakumar Yadav – 57* off 26 balls (controlled aggression during chase) |
| Standout Bowler | Jasprit Bumrah – Crucial breakthroughs, Player of the Match |
| India’s Score | 155/2 in 10.0 overs |
| New Zealand’s Score | 153/9 in 20.0 overs |
| Key Partnership | Unbeaten 102-run stand between Abhishek Sharma & Suryakumar Yadav |
New Zealand Sets a Competitive Target
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first, aiming to put pressure on India with a solid total. The Kiwis focused on building a steady foundation in the powerplay. Devon Conway and Tim Seifert tried to keep the scoreboard ticking, but India’s bowlers maintained tight control, preventing them from gaining a huge lead.
The breakthrough came when Harshit Rana dismissed Devon Conway in the very first over, giving India an early advantage. Despite this early setback, New Zealand’s middle order tried to stabilise the game. Glenn Phillips played a crucial role, scoring 48 runs and anchoring the innings with valuable partnerships.
New Zealand’s strategy was to keep wickets in hand and accelerate in the later overs. They managed to post 153/9 in 20 overs, a competitive total that looked defendable against India’s strong batting lineup. However, New Zealand’s total proved insufficient against India’s aggressive batting in the chase.
Bishnoi, Bumrah, and Hardik Put New Zealand Under Pressure
India’s bowlers executed a smart and disciplined performance, putting New Zealand on the back foot early. Hardik Pandya took a spectacular overhead catch to dismiss Devon Conway, followed by Ravi Bishnoi claiming Rachin Ravindra with a well-timed short ball.
Bishnoi then played a key role in the power play, conceding just one run while bowling to Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips. Jasprit Bumrah maintained calm precision, removing Seifert by targeting the stumps and forcing the Kiwis to take risks.
Later, Bishnoi broke a crucial 52-run partnership by dismissing Mark Chapman with a 105kph delivery, and wickets continued to tumble as New Zealand struggled to accelerate, eventually finishing at 153/9 in a subdued batting display.
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India’s Chase and Elite Display
India’s chase was a masterclass in aggressive batting, led by Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. Kishan started explosively, hitting Matt Henry for 6, 6, and 4 in his first over, while Abhishek responded immediately, sending Jacob Duffy’s delivery over midwicket for a six and following up with quick boundaries. The pair put together 53 runs in just 19 balls, with Kishan eventually falling for 28 off 13 deliveries.
Abhishek continued to dominate, reaching fifty in the power play and finding innovative ways to pierce the offside and flick over fine leg for six. After Kishan’s dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav took control, rotating strike and attacking effortlessly on both sides of the wicket, ensuring India’s innings remained in complete command, and the chase was wrapped up with authority.
What’s next
India’s 3-0 series sweep over New Zealand boosted confidence and allowed the team to experiment with combinations and squad depth ahead of upcoming T20 fixtures, including the ICC T20 World Cup. Standout performances from Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and the bowling unit have given management more flexibility in selecting the playing XI. New Zealand will need to rebuild their batting lineup and address the weaknesses exposed during the series to bounce back in future matches.
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