Nagpur erupted in cheers as India kicked off their T20 series against New Zealand with a commanding 48-run victory at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 84 off 35 balls set the tone, propelling India to a massive 238/7 in 20 overs after losing the toss.
Early trouble struck with India at 27/2, but Abhishek forged a vital 99-run stand with captain Suryakumar Yadav in just 47 balls. Surya fell for 32 off 22, laced with four boundaries and a six, but Abhishek’s onslaught—five fours and eight towering sixes—rescued the innings.
Hardik Pandya chipped in with 25 before Rinku Singh unleashed 44* off 20 balls, smashing three sixes and four fours to push the total sky-high. New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson grabbed two wickets each, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.
Chasing 239, New Zealand crumbled to 190/7. Devon Conway departed for a golden duck on the second ball, followed by Rachin Ravindra for 1. Glenn Phillips and Tim Robinson stitched 51 runs for the third wicket, but Robinson’s 21 off 15 ended soon after.
Phillips’ valiant 78 off 40, with six sixes and four fours, alongside Mark Chapman’s 39, lifted them to 131/4. However, Daryl Mitchell’s 28 and skipper Mitchell Santner’s unbeaten 20 couldn’t bridge the gap. Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube starred with 2/2 each for India, while Arshdeep Singh, Hardik, and Axar Patel claimed one apiece.
This win gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, signaling their intent to dominate. Fans are buzzing about Abhishek’s breakout performance and the bowling attack’s precision under lights.