India vs New Zealand, NZ in IND, 5 T20Is, 2026 Jan 21 Full score card

That's it, it's all over. Dube finishes with a slower one, bowling it a touch fuller on off. Jamieson drills it down to long off and picks up a single. India win by 48 runs.

No hat-trick! Slower delivery, bowled on a good length and outside off. Kyle Jamieson looks to drive but misses.

Kyle Jamieson is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Two in two for Shivam Dube and it's a golden duck on T20I debut for Kristian Clarke. A low full toss, well wide of the off stump. Clarke hangs back and is quick to get across to the off side. He lays into the shot and crunches it flat towards long on. Rinku Singh leaps up a bit and takes a fine catch a few yards inside the ropes.

Kristian Clarke comes out to bat on T20I debut.

OUT! CAUGHT! Excellent judgment in the deep from the substitute fielder and Shivam Dube picks up a wicket as well. Slower one, on a good length and outside off. Daryl Mitchell goes after it but loses his shape and ends up lofting it wide of long off. Ravi Bishnoi runs across the turf to his left and snaffles it, all while keeping his balance.

That should have been left alone by Santner. Attempted wide yorker, ends up being a full toss that seems to be landing beyond the cut strip. Santner reaches for it and toe-ends it back towards the stumps at the other end. The ball deflects away and they get a single.

Full and wide outside off, just inside the tramline. Mitchell hangs deep and drags it across to long on for a single.

Shivam Dube (2-0-25-0) to bowl the final over of the game.

Swing and a miss! A full ball outside off, takes off after pitching as well. Mitchell Santner swings across the line but only connects with thin air.

A low full toss around off, nearly a perfect yorker. Santner jams it down into the deck and the ball goes over the bowler, rolling away to long off. The batters pick up a single.

Excellent from Arshdeep, just four singles off it thus far. A wide yorker, gets it spot-on. Mitchell has to reach for it and squeezes it through backward point for a single.

A low full toss, angled into the toes, Santner flicks it away firmly but straight to deep mid-wicket for one.

DROPPED! Another catching opportunity goes down and this time, Ishan Kishan is the culprit. Pitched up full and on the pads, Daryl Mitchell whips it off his legs and gets it over mid-wicket. Kishan comes in from the deep but is just a bit casual and the ball slips through his hands. The Kiwis get a single.

Banged in slow and short outside off. Santner drags the pull down to deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.

FOUR! Really well adjusted in the end by Mitchell. Full and straight, Daryl Mitchell initially sets up for the reverse sweep but gets taken aback by the full toss. He quickly switches the grip and reverse ramps it fine of short third for a boundary. 15 off the over.

Another yorker in the blockhole, angled into the legs. Santner makes room and firms it down to long off for a run.

That's like hitting the nail on the head. A searing yorker on middle, right in the blochole. Daryl Mitchell digs it out wide of mid on and picks up a single.

Fuller in length, speared in towards the stumps. Santner backs away and drills it down to long off for just a single this time.

FOUR! That's nicely put away as well by Santner. Short of a length, on the pads, flicked off the hips away wide of short fine leg for another boundary.

FOUR! Very, very unlucky for Rinku Singh. Full and outside off, Mitchell Santner hangs deep and swats it flat and hard towards the long off fence. Rinku leaps up and palms the ball back in wonderfully but unfortunately for him, the ball dribbles back into the ropes.

Jasprit Bumrah (2-0-14-0) is back.

FOUR! That's nicely done by Mitchell. Arshdeep nails the wide yorker but this time Mitchell stays put, extends those arms and opens the face of the blade to squeeze it over short third for a boundary.

FOUR! Off the edge! A well-directed bumper over middle and leg, Mitchell is standing well out of his crease and gets hurried on the pull. The ball takes the top edge and sails over the keeper's head for a boundary.

Another wide yorker from Arshdeep, flirting with the tramline. Mitchell reaches out but ends up toe-ending it back on the deck. Had Mitchell left that, it would have been a wide.

Slower ball, into the pitch and wide outside off. Santner hangs back and smacks it down through mid off for just a single.

Good-length delivery on middle, Santner lifts it straight back over the bowler's head, but doesn't time it to perfection. Abhishek Sharma at long on, mops it up to his right and keeps it down to two.

Well, that went the other way. A wide yorker from Arshdeep. Mitchell pre-empts the reverse ramp but miscues it off the edge of the blade and gets it behind square leg for a single.

Darted in on the pads, whipped away through mid-wicket for just a single. Abhishek Sharma gives away just 3 runs in the 3 balls he had to bowl, excellent stuff.

Floated up, on a length and angled into the batter. Mitchell backs away and slaps it down to cover.

Shorter in length and on off, Mitchell rocks back and swats it straight back into the turf. Abhishek Sharma looks to stop it in the follow-through but gets only fingertips on it. The ball goes through his legs and down to long off as the batters pick up a couple of runs.

Axar Patel has called for the physio. He has suffered a cut on his index finger. He is going off the field with the physio. Ravi Bishnoi has come on as the substitute. Abhishek Sharma to finish the over.

FOUR! Oh, that's burst through the fingers of Axar Patel. Hopefully, he hasn't split his webbing here. Slower and on a dragged length around off. Mitchell swats it flat and hard to the left of the bowler. Axar bravely sticks out his left hand but the ball deflects away to the fence behind.

Oh, falls just short. Flighted ball, drifted into leg stump. Daryl Mitchell clears the front leg and heaves it off the inner half of the blade and gets it over mid-wicket. Abhishek Sharma races in from the deep and puts in the dive but the ball lands short. Sharma does well to get his body behind it and they get two runs.

A round-arm delivery, on the pads, Santner clips it to deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Flat and short, on off, Santner dabs it wide of point for a single.

The Kiwi skipper, Mitchell Santner is in next.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Mark Chapman holes out. That will make New Zealand's job all the more difficult with both set batters now back in the hut. This is slowed down, on the shorter side, on middle. Chapman shimmies down the track and swings through the line. He is not to the pitch of the ball and gets only the height and not the distance. Abhishek Sharma runs in off the ropes and settles under the skier. Wicket number 2 for Chakaravarthy.

Varun switches to over the wicket and this cuts across the left-hander, Mark punches it firmly to extra cover.

SIX! Excellent use of the feet! This keeps straight, on a length, on off, Chapman puts the dancing shoes on and smokes it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Tosses it up, on middle, Mitchell advances down the track and has a big heave across the line. Shanks it off the inner half to deep square leg for a run.

In and around the off pole, on a nagging length, Mitchell taps it to extra cover.

FOUR! Picks the gap superbly, does Chapman! Axar stays around the wicket for the left-hander and serves it full, on off, Chapman gets low and swipes it right between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four.

Sliding across the left-hander, on off, Chapman gets on top of it and punches it to cover.

Full and coming in with the arm, on middle, Mitchell gets low and plays the lap down to deep fine leg for a single.

The next batter is in. India's tormentor in the ODIs - Daryl Mitchell, walks out to bat with New Zealand way behind the eight ball.

OUT! CAUGHT! A cry of anguish from Phillips as soon as he hit it. He knew it straight away. Axar spears it in, flat and on a nagging length, on middle. Glenn rocks on the back foot to unleash the pull but he is hurried on the shot. Ends up hitting it a lot straighter towards long on. Shivam Dube could have taken a couple of steps forward and made the catch easier for himself, but he opted to stay back. He got low to complete the catch. Phillips departs for a well-made 78 off 40 balls. New Zealand needed him to go longer.

SIX Same region, better result! Tossed up, outside off, Phillips stays leg side and opens up the front hip. He goes inside out over extra cover for a six.

FOUR! Up and over! Fractionally short, on off, Phillips presses deep in the crease and waits on it before slamming it over extra cover for a four.

Good comeback from Varun after conceding a six on the first ball. The over ends up going for 11. Full and wide on off, Phillips digs it out through point for just a single.

This is fizzed across the right-hander, Phillips lets it be but the ball sneaks inside the tramline.

Flat and short, on middle, Mark backs away to force it through the off side. This dribbles in the deep and the call is for two straight away but Ishan Kishan keeps the batters down to one.

Keeps the stumps in play, fuller than the previous ball. It is there to be hit but Phillips swings a bit too hard and loses his shape. Drags it off the inner half to deep mid-wicket. They cross.

Varun switches to around the wicket and pushes it across the batter, on a length. Phillips cuts it late and wide of deep point for a couple of runs.

SIX! Clean as a whistle! Floated up, right in the hitting arc, around the off stump. Phillips clears the front leg and tonks it over long on for a 107-metre six.

Off the edge! It does not matter much as the ball did not carry to Sanju Samson. Dube gets the slower, short ball high enough this time, on off. Chapman shimmies down the track but then has to adjust to the length. Gets his hands high to fetch the pull but misses.

SIX! All the way! 15 off the over with a ball to go. Dube slams the surface but fails to get it high enough, on middle. Mark waits on it before pulling it flat and wide of deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

On a back of a length, outside off, Phillips slaps it to deep point for one more.

SIX! WOW! That has gone back many a mile. It has to be the longest hit of the night. Yes, it is. A 105-metre hit, and Glenn enjoyed it. On a short of a length, this sits up to be hit, on middle. Phillips stays on the back foot and clubs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Angled away, on a short of a length, Mark spanks it to wide long on for a single.

Hurls it on a back of a length, on middle. Phillips whips it through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Bumrah bowls it short, on middle, Mark is able to swivel quickly and unleashes the pull to beat the diving deep square leg fielder for a four.

Nails the yorker, on middle and leg, Chapman jams it out to mid-wicket.

FIFTY FOR PHILLIPS! A ton in the ODI series decider and a half-century to start the T20I leg of the tour. It has been a lone fight tonight. Bumrah bowls the slower bumper, on off, Phillips hops and dabs it down to deep third for a single. Brings up his 11th T20 half-century.

On a back of a length, on off, Mark swats it in front of square for a run.

Skidding through, on a hard length, on middle, Phillips hammers it to deep square leg for a single.

DROPPED! Rinku Singh has shelled it. Off-cutter from Bumrah, on a length, on leg. Chapman has a swipe across the line but the ball spins away to catch the top edge. It goes straight up towards deep square leg, where Rinku moves forward off the ropes but does not hold on. The ball hits his palm and pops out. Bumrah smiles it off. They cross.

DRINKS BREAK! A lot of catching up to do for New Zealand, with the required run rate now having shot up to 15.2. Glenn Phillips has looked busy and has found the boundaries, but Mark Chapman hasn't quite been able to match that tempo. 6 bowling options have been used by Suryakumar Yadav, with Jasprit Bumrah still having three overs left, while Varun Chakaravarthy has also been tough to get away. That makes the task for the Kiwis all the more difficult from here. Bumrah to bowl after the break.

FOUR! That's been nailed. Short ball over middle, at a gentle pace as well. Phillips has all the time in the world to rock back and pulls it firmly behind square leg for a boundary. New Zealand are 87/3 at the end of 10 overs, exactly 30 runs behind India at the same stage.

A slower bumper, banged in well short and outside off. Phillips leaps up and tries to pull it down but misses. No wide called either.

Slower one, pitched up on off. Phillips backs away and punches it straight back down the ground. Pandya cuts it off to his right running from long off and keeps it down to two runs.

Shorter one on the hips, nudged away down to long leg for just another single.

Back of a length and outside off, cut away square past point for a single.

That should have been out! Hard length on middle, Phillips tucks it away through mid-wicket for one but he wants two. Phillips takes on the arm of Rinku Singh who reaches the ball in a flash and throws it perfectly to the keeper. However, Sanju Samson completely fumbles the ball and Phillips is able to get home. Poor decision to go for the second run but Phillips survives.

Slightly tossed up, fuller and around off. Chapman hits it through extra cover and gets it wide enough of long off to pick up a couple of runs.

FOUR! Streaky but will do nicely for New Zealand. Chapman backs away early and Varun Chakaravarthy tries to bowl it really wide outside off. Chapman throws his hands at it and gets a thick outside edge that goes fine of short third and rolls away into the fence.

Good length, darted into middle and leg. Chapman gets on the front foot and taps it across to short mid-wicket.

Dragged length outside off, eased away through covers for a single by Phillips.

SIX! Swung away for a biggie. Slightly fuller and around middle, Glenn Phillips gets under the ball and swipes it handsomely over cow corner for a 93-meter maximum.

Dropped short and outside off, swatted away without much timing through mid off for a single.

Quick and short, darted into the pads. Chapman flicks it down to long leg for one more.

Flatter one on leg, Phillips whips it away towards wide long on for another single.

On the shorter side and around leg stump, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Sweetly timed. Fuller in length, angled in, Chapman gets forward and smacks it wide of the fielder at mid-wicket and picks up a boundary.

WIDE. Shortish length, turning down the leg side. Mark Chapman looks to pull it fine but misses. The keeper seems very excited about a caught behind but the umpire signals a wide. The interesting thing here is that the bowler doesn't appeal at all. But Sanju is adamant and India take the review. The third umpire checks UltraEdge and finds that the ball went under the gloves and there's no contact on the body either. It stays NOT OUT and the wide call will stay as well.

Quick and flat around off, Chapman backs away and slaps it straight to covers.

Flighted ball on middle and leg, Phillips takes the front leg out and heaves it off the inner half of the blade to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Nicely bowled. Varun bowls this quicker and a bit fuller outside off. The ball holds its line as Chapman ends up playing inside the line.

A big wrong'un, on a length and angled into middle. Phillips hops back and tucks it behind square leg for a single.

Shorter in length and around off, Mark Chapman swats it off the back foot and gets it through mid-wicket for a single.

Still no Daryl Mitchell. Mark Chapman walks in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! No timing on it whatsoever from Tim Robinson and he has to walk back to the shed. Varun Chakaravarthy drags the length back by a couple of inches and keeps it fairly straight. Robinson opts to charge down the track but miscues it completely. The ball lobs straight towards short mid-wicket, where Shivam Dube takes a straightforward catch and the brewing stand is broken. Varun gets a wicket in his first over and Robinson walks back after making 21 (15).

Good length on off, sliding on, Phillips rocks back and forces it down to long on for one more.

Varun starts with a length ball, bowling it in line with the stumps. Robinson presses back and punches it down to long on for a single. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.

Just one over for Jasprit Bumrah in his opening spell. Varun Chakaravarthy replaces him.

On the shorter side again, Phillips rocks back and pulls it to the right of Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs more. The 50 also comes up for the Kiwis, right at the end of the Powerplay.

SIX! Clean as a whistle. Marginally short, sliding in towards middle and leg. Glenn rocks back early and short-arm pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

That's excellent from Rinku Singh in the deep. Fuller one, drifted into middle, Glenn Phillips hoicks it away and gets it well to the right of deep mid-wicket. Rinku sprints across the turf and dives in to save a couple of runs.

A touch fuller and in line with the stumps, Phillips strokes it back to the bowler.

Flatter again, around middle. Robinson shovels it off the back foot and gets it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Axar uses his height and lands the ball on a good length, darting it back into the batter. Robinson backs away and jams it into the off side.

Axar Patel comes in to bowl the final over of the Powerplay.

Honing in on the stumps, full in length, Glenn plays a punchy drive on the bounce towards the bowler. Bumrah sticks out his left hand on his follow-through to make the stop.

Good comeback! A sharp and quick bumper from Bumrah, outside off, Phillips hops to flay at it but the ball keeps rising and he is beaten for pace.

FOUR! Absolutely hammered! A bit too full from Bumrah, pace off, on off. Phillips does not miss out as he smashes it past the diving Suryakumar Yadav at cover for a four.

Skidding through, on a back of a length, on middle. Tim hops and drops it beside the strip on the leg side for one more.

The length is pulled back, on off, Phillips looks to nudge it into the off side but does not pick the slower ball. Ends up bunting it down on the off side. They cross.

Attacking the front pad with a full ball, Phillips works it to mid on.

Time for a bowling change, perhaps? Yes! Jasprit Bumrah comes into the attack now and it doesn't get any easier for New Zealand.

FOUR! Ishan Kishan's effort goes in vain. Hardik floats it up, outside off, Robinson leans on and drills it all along the ground, wide of deep cover. Ishan flings himself to his right in the deep and gets a hand on it but it is not enough. The ball trickles behind into the fence. 17 runs off the over and New Zealand are starting to get a bit of momentum.

Hardik hurls it on a good length, outside off, Tim extends his hands and knocks it to extra cover.

On off, on a back of a length, Phillips drives it on the up straight to extra cover, where Rinku does not quite judge the bounce and the ball deflects away off his leg, allowing a single.

Another off-cutter, on a length, on off, Robinson punches towards extra cover and takes a quick single.

SIX! Nothing streaky about this one! Hardik hits the hard length, over middle. Tim stands tall and just effortlessly pulls it off the front foot over mid-wicket for a flat six.

FOUR! Off the edge! Pace off at 113.6 kph, on a length, outside off, Robinson throws his hands at it and it flies off a thickish outside edge, past short third for a four.

Wide! Hardik bends his back and digs it in short, over off. Robinson swivels but then bails out of the pull. The ball sails over his head for a wide.

SIX! Hit with real authority! Arshdeep lands it on the fuller side, on off, Phillips just holds his shape and swings through the line. Tonks it over mid off and picks up a six.

Around off, Phillips punches this length ball to cover.

On a good length, outside off, Phillips flashes but ends up chopping it down on the deck.

Tight single! Arshdeep lands it on a back of a length, on middle. Robinson gets on top of the bounce and tucks it in front of Ishan Kishan at a catching mid-wicket. Kishan swoops in and has a shy at the bowling end whilst losing his balance. Tim dives to get home. It would have been interesting had the throw hit.

This swings away, full and on off, Glenn strokes it in front of mid off for a single.

FOUR! Lovely shot! A bit of shape back into the right-hander, on a length, on middle. Phillips brings his wrists into play and threads the gap between mid on and mid-wicket for the first four of the chase.

Just out of reach! Pandya drags the length back, on off, Robinson stays put in the crease and swings through the line. Skies it off the bottom half of the blade but he gets enough bat on it to evade the backtracking Suryakumar Yadav at mid on. Two runs taken.

A bit of hesitation but no harm done. Keeps the stumps in play, does Hardik, on off, Robinson dabs it towards cover and wants to sneak in a single but Phillips is not interested and he sends Tim back. It was the right call as Rinku was quick to get to the ball.

Fuller and on middle, Phillips taps it in front mid on and steals a quick single from Arshdeep Singh, who is caught on his heels.

New Zealand in early trouble and out comes Glenn Phillips to bat. Interesting call.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Hardik strikes from the other end and backs up what Arshdeep did in the first over. Angling away again, on a back of a length, on middle. Ravindra uses his feet this time but is nowhere near the pitch of it. He pushes hard at the ball to force it down the ground. Gets an outside edge and it is snaffled by Abhishek Sharma to his left at slip. New Zealand are 1/2, chasing 239.

Another one that leaves the left-hander, on a nagging length, Ravindra tries to hit this one on the rise but mistimes it to mid off.

A gentle outswinger at 128 kph, on a good length, punched on the up to cover without much timing.

It will be Hardik Pandya to share the new ball with Arshdeep Singh and not Jasprit Bumrah.

Keeps it nice and full, on middle. Tim brings his wrists into play and works it to mid-wicket.

Rapped on the pads! A prolonged appeal from Arshdeep Singh but turned down. Suryakumar Yadav has a word with the bowler and the keeper. He takes the review just before the timer runs out. Is it doing too much? The first replay does seem to indicate so. Pitched up by Arshdeep from over the wicket, Robinson stays rooted to the crease and brings his bat out in front for the flick. He is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the front pad. No bat involved but the Ball Tracking has the ball swinging beyond the leg pole. India burn an early review.

Inswinger attempted by Arshdeep, on a good length, outside off. Ravindra pushes hard at the ball. The ball goes off the outside edge down to deep third for a single.

On a length, outside off, Rachin reaches out and cracks the drive but picks out the man at point.

A wicket falls in the first over and that brings out the new batter. Rachin Ravindra walks in at number 3 for New Zealand.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A stunner from Sanju Samson. Devon Conway departs for a two-ball duck. Full and moving away in the air. Conway extends his hands away from his body and goes hard on the lofted drive on the off side. The ball takes the outside edge and it loops behind towards the keeper. Samson dives to his left and sticks out his left glove to hold onto a fine catch.

Slightly wayward from Singh first up. He drifts down leg in search of swing but the ball stays within the new guideline for wide on the leg side. Conway gets on his toes to flick it away but misses.

FOUR! Not a clean connection, but enough to find the fence. 21 runs off the 20th over. Daryl digs it in short, over middle. Rinku swivels on the back foot and although the ball gets big on him, he manages to get it past square leg. A couple of fielders give chase but in vain. India end with 238 on the board!

Rinku Singh is crossed with himself on missing out. Mitchell gets this one to sneak inside the tramline, full and slow, Singh swings for the hills, only to connect with thin air.

FOUR! Gets it away! Mitchell bangs it in short, over off and middle. Rinku gets his hands high and rides the bounce to pull it behind square for a four. 17 runs so far with two balls to go.

Wide! Another attempt from Mitchell to keep it away from the batter's arc but this time, Rinku does not move. Wide given

Mitchell switches to around the wicket and pitches it up. It goes on the bounce to the keeper, Devon Conway, who fails to gather it cleanly. The ball deflects away off his knee to short third but they do not run. Not called a wide as Rinku had shuffled across to the off side and then left the ball.

SIX! Rinku Singh stays in the crease this time, but the result is the same. Mitchell serves the off-cutter, fuller and around the off stump. Rinku gets under the ball and clobbers it over deep mid-wicket for another six.

SIX! BANG! Straight as an arrow. Mitchell starts from over the wicket and this is angled across, on a length. Rinku gives the bowler the charge and pumps it over the sight screen for a six.

Who will bowl the final over? Santner has thrown the ball to Daryl Mitchell, who hasn't bowled a single over so far in this contest. Also, New Zealand are penalized for a slow over rate, which means they now have one less boundary rider.

4 dots in the 19th over. Just 6 runs off it. Angling away, on a good length, this is sliced to deep point. Since there was no possibilty of a second run, the batters do not run.

FOUR! Arshdeep Singh finally finds the connection and the fence too. Duffy slams the deck, on middle. Singh opens the stance and picks the slower one. He waits on it before thumping it back over the bowler's head. The mid off fielder gives the chase but the ball wins the race.

Arshdeep misses again, three dots on the bounce. Off-cutter, into the surface, around off. Singh has a big swing across the line and does not connect.

Two dots in a row! At 139.8 kph, on a short of a good length, on middle. Arshdeep hops away from the line of the ball and looks to run it down but misses.

Skidding through, on a hard length. Arshdeep stays leg side and flashes but misses. New Zealand will want to keep Arshdeep on strike for as much as they can.

Low full toss, on middle, Rinku wrists it to deep square leg and takes the single. He initally thought about not crossing over but eventually went through.

Wide! Pace off from Duffy but this is beyond the tramline on off.

Jacob Duffy to bowl out here, which means Mitchell Santner might bowl the final over himself. The Kiwis will be desperate to get Rinku Singh out in this over.

Streaky! Clarke bends his back and bangs it in short, over off. Arshdeep swings across for the pull but fails to get on top of it. Gets a top edge that clears the back tracking short fine leg fielder. Two runs taken.

India are 7 down, and there are still 13 legal deliveries left in this innings. With that said, Arshdeep Singh walks out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! The slower ball does the trick for Kristian Clarke. Maiden T20I wicket for Clarke. Kristian rolls his fingers over the ball and pushes it across the left-hander. Axar gets his hands out in front to play the lofted drive. Neither does he get the elevation, nor is it wide enough to beat the fielder. Daryl Mitchell sprints to his right at long off and stays side-on to complete the catch. India are now 7 down for 209.

On middle and leg, clipped in front of square on the leg side for a run.

FOUR! That raced away like a flash! Fuller and wide on off, Singh reaches out and cracks it square of the wicket on the off side. The fielder in the deep was not far off but he stood no chance.

SIX! A poor delivery and it gets the treatment. The 200 is up for India. Clarke digs it in short but the line is down leg with fine leg inside the circle. Rinku swivels and hooks it over the deep fine leg fence for a six.

Off-pace delivery, on a length, Axar extends his hands to go through the off side. Chops it down, wide of point for a single.

10 runs off the over without taking much risk! On leg, full again, Patel wrists it to deep mid-wicket for one.

A bit too straight, at the pads, on the fuller side, Patel flicks it to the right of deep mid-wicket. Glenn Phillips gets across in the deep but a fumble from him turns what could have been a tight second run to an easy one.

On a back of a length, on middle. Rinku shovels it aerially towards deep backward square leg and the ball drops short of the incoming fielder.

Full and straight again, Rinku pushes it back to Jamieson, who makes a low stop on his follow-through.

FOUR! A shot of high class from Rinku! Jamieson errs as he dishes out a half-volley with mid off inside the circle, on off. Singh shows the full face of the bat and firms the drive to the left of the man at mid off for a four.

A bit of hesitation but they make it! Jamieson bowls it at the sticks, full in length. Rinku clips it to the right of deep mid-wicket and calls for two straight away. Axar stutters before returning for the second. Glenn Phillips fires in a throw at the bowling end but Patel gets home.

Good effort! Skidding through, going away, Rinku uses the pace and steers it to short third, where the fielder dives to his left and keeps the batters to a single.

Running across the left-hander, on off, Axar glides it to short third and gets off the mark with a single.

Axar Patel walks out to bat at number 8 for India.

OUT! TAKEN! 'Something's going to happen on this ball,' quipped Ian Smith on air just before the ball was bowled and right on cue, it did. A big wicket for New Zealand. Into the deck, pace off, on middle. Hardik clears the front leg and has a jab across the line. He fails to get the distance on it and holes out to deep mid-wicket, where Mark Chapman times the leap to perfection and takes the catch over his head. 25 (16) for Pandya. India are now 185/6.

Nails the yorker at the base of the off pole. Pandya can only dig it out back towards the bowler. A good stop by Duffy tumbling to his left.

Wide! Banged in short, aimed at the body. Hardik ducks under it. Wide given for height, much to the surprise of Duffy.

Banged into the surface, on off. Rinku waits on it and runs it down to deep third. Duffy falls over on his follow-through but gets back up quickly.

Angled in, on a good length, on middle. Pandya whips it in front of square for a single.

Right then, 5 overs left. Jacob Duffy (2-0-16-1) is back in the attack.

Flighted, fuller and angled into the legs. Pandya hits it with a straight bat and drives it down to long on for another single. 14 off the over.

Good length on the pads, nudged away past square leg for one more.

Dragged length outside off, Pandya steps out and slaps the ball away square through the off side for a single.

SIX! Pandya didn't even get to the pitch of the ball but still manages to get so much power on the shot. Flighted ball, Pandya steps down the track and ends up amost hitting it flat and right back over the bowler's head for a biggie.

FOUR! Flatter one, bowled into the pitch and wide outside off. Pandya rocks back and thrashes it away over extra cover for a boundary.

The arm-ball, sliding it across the left-hander. Rinku rocks back and jams it down behind point for a single.

Mitchell Santner brings himself back into the attack. 2-0-23-1 so far for the Kiwi skipper.

A length ball on the pads, gentle-pace again, tucked away in front of square leg by Singh for a single.

Back of a length, around middle and leg, a bit slower too. Rinku sets up to pull but it keeps a touch low and hits him in the mid-riff region.

WIDE.Slower delivery again, full and angled down the leg side. Wide called but Jamieson reckons that the ball went inside the new guideline past the leg stump.

Rinku Singh joins Hardik Pandya out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! The simplest of return catches and Kyle Jamieson gets another wicket. Slower delivery, just back of a length on middle and leg. Shivam Dube looks to turn it leg side but the ball sticks in the pitch and catches the leading edge. The ball lobs straight back up and Jamieson pouches it with ease. A short stay at the crease for Dube as he departs for 9 (4) and India are now 5 down for 166.

SIX! Crunched! Banged in short and over leg stump, Shivam Dube picks the bones out of this one and pulls it flat over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Full-pitched delivery outside off, Pandya jams it hard into the ground and it goes through the hands of Jamieson in the followthrough. Pandya picks up a single down to long off.

WIDE. Jamieson looks to attack the pads but spills it down the leg side for a wide.

FOUR! Too hot to handle, that shot. Back of a length and around off, Hardik Pandya stays upright and smashes it like a tennis forehand and nails it to the right of long off for a boundary. No chance for the fielder who was barely a few feet away.

A good comeback over from Kristian Clarke. Kyle Jamieson (2-0-30-1) comes back on.

Another slower ball, bowled into the pitch and over middle. Pandya plays a short-arm pull and gets it through mid-wicket for a single. Just 5 off it, tidy over from Kristian Clarke.

Hard length on the pads, Hardik tucks it off the hips and down to short fine leg. He looks for the single but Dube isn't interested.

Slower bumper, ovr middle and leg, Dube pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Oh, for a second, Santner might have thought he was in business. Slower one, pitched up fuller around off. Dube leans on and drives it uppishly but gets it wide enough to the left of a catching extra cover and picks up a couple of runs in the deep.

Fuller in length, on the stumps, Pandya drills it right back. Clarke gets low in the follow-through and deflects it away through mid on, conceding a single. The 150 is now up for India.

Back of a length and angled into the batter, Pandya nudges it away into the leg side.

One left-hander replaces another. Shivam Dube walks in. Kristian Clarke (2-0-21-0) returns to the attack. A slight hold-up in play as Hardik Pandya wants to change his bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ish Sodhi gets his man eventually but the damage has already been done. Sodhi tosses the ball, but lands it outside the line of off stump. Abhishek Sharma goes down on one knee and looks for the slog sweep again but has to fetch the ball. Abhishek ends up dragging it high over wide mid on where Kyle Jamieson settles under it and pouches the ball safely. End of a fiery knock from Sharma as he departs for 84 off just 35 balls.

Tossed up outside off, this one grips a bit. Pandya drives it to deep cover and turns the strike over.

Short ball around off, pulled away flat to deep mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE. Quicker delivery, short and wide outside off, a bit too wide for the umpire's liking.

SIX! In the slot and out of the park! Abhishek Sharma brings up 5000 T20 runs, faster than anyone. Tossed up on middle and leg, turning in, Abhishek sits down and launches the slog sweep towards cow corner and the ball comfortably sails over the ropes.

SIX! A valiant effort from Daryl Mitchell but it goes in vain. Tossed up wide outside off, Sharma dances down the pitch and swats it flat and wide of long off. Mitchell times the leap to perfection but just can't palm the ball in cleanly and it lands on the ropes.

FOUR! Flatter one, slightly short as well. Abhishek steps out and flat-bats it back over the bowler's head for a boundary. India have no intention of taking their foot off the accelerator.

Hit hard again but for a dot. Tossed up around off, Pandya steps out and drills it back towards the bowler and Santner gets a big hand on it as well.

FOUR! Wow, that nearly cleaned up the bowler and the umpire. Tossed up around middle and leg, Hardik Pandya skips down the track and pummels it straight back. Santner flies to his right but thankfully for him, the ball misses the fingers and the umpire does well to get out of the way as well. It rockets to the fence behind.

Hardik Pandya comes out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! This one does carry and Tim Robinson makes no mistake. Cleverly bowled by Mitchell Santner as he flights the ball up and drifts it in with the arm. Suryakumar Yadav looks to back away but fails to create enough room and lofts it over mid on. Robinson runs in from the deep and dives forward to take a fine catch. SKY departs for a well-made 32 (22) and India are now 126/3.

Nothing seems to be going New Zealand's way. Fired in, wide outside off, Abhishek miscues the lofted drive but mistimes it well enough. The ball lands short of the incoming long off fielder and the batters pick up a single.

WIDE. Quicker one, darted well outside off. Left alone for a wide.

SIX! Up, up and away! Tossed up around middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma clears the front leg and heaves it high over wide long on for a biggie.

Oh, nearly a breakthrough right after the break. Nicely flighted, wide outside off. Yadav comes down the pitch and lifts it over extra cover. The long off fielder runs in but the ball falls well short. Single taken.

DRINKS BREAK! Top-tier action in the first 10 overs and the re-laid Nagpur pitch seems to be playing really well in terms of batting. The outfield is lightning quick and there's barely any turn on offer. India are flying and have plenty of hitting to come. New Zealand need to find a way of picking up wickets at regular intervals, which is the only thing that might slow down the hosts. Let's see how the next 10 overs turn out.

Slower and fuller, on off, eased to long off for a single by Suryakumar. 11 runs off the over. At the halfway mark, India are 117/2.

FOUR! In the gap! Flatter and shorter, on middle, Suryakumar takes a couple of steps down the track and gets on top of it. He punches it in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for four more.

FOUR! 9,000 T20 runs for Suryakumar Yadav! Sodhi serves the googly, on a nagging length, on middle. Yadav walks inside the line and picks it up and over short fine leg for a four.

Wrong'un, full and on middle, Abhishek drives it to long on for a single.

Slows it down and drags the length back, on off. Abhishek was about to swing across the line but adjusted to the length and ended up bunting it back towards the bowler.

Hangs it up there, on middle, SKY taps it to long on for one.

Ish Sodhi is back on, but from the other end.

Oh, SKY was gone had he missed it. Speared in by Santner, full and on middle, Suryakumar Yadav gives the bowler the charge and swings through the line. He is lucky to make some contact or else he would have been stumped by a fair bit. Gets an inside edge that goes to short fine leg for one.

Short and on off, Abhishek cuts it hard but the backward point fielder dives to his left and saves a certain boundary. Just a single.

SIX! Out of here! Darted in by Santner, on middle and leg, on a length. Sharma clears the front leg and clubs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Very full, on off, SKY works it wide of cover and turns the strike over.

Floated up, on off, SKY eases it to cover.

Pushed through first up, on middle, Abhishek flicks it through mid-wicket for one.

20 runs off the over! On a length, on off, Abhishek pushes it through covers for a single.

FIVE WIDES! It is going from bad to worse for Glenn Phillips. Sprayed down leg, on the shorter side, Sharma walks inside the line for the tickle but misses. The keeper, Devon Conway misses as well and it races away for a four.

Full and around off, sliced wide of point for a single.

FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK! Short and flat, on off, Sharma taps it off the back foot to long on and picks up a single. Gets to his half-century in 22 balls, the fastest for an Indian in a T20I against New Zealand. He has started 2026 just the way he would have liked but he will be hungry for more.

FOUR! Oopsie, another error by Kristian Clarke. The debutant is having a torrid time in the field.  Fuller and on off, Abhishek shimmies down the track and carves it towards deep cover. Clarke gets down on a knee but the ball bounces and spins just in front of him and he is beaten to his right.

FOUR MORE! To the other side of Kristian Clarke and this time, he had no chance. Fractionally short and equally short, on off, Sharma hammers it behind point and it races away to the fence.

FOUR! Oh, dear! Kristian Clarke is beaten by the spin. Phillips begins from around the wicket, on the shorter side, on off. Abhishek gives the bowler the charge and hits it towards deep cover. He does not quite get hold of it. Clarke moves to his left in the deep but fails to read the spin and ends up overruning the ball.

Double change? Yes, indeed. However, it isn't Mitchell Santner who comes on to bowl but rather Glenn Phillips.

Tighter line and fuller as well, Abhishek strokes it to long off and keeps the strike with a single. 8 runs off the first over of spin tonight.

FOUR! First four for Abhishek! Sodhi drops it a bit too short and offers width, Sharma stays put in the crease and slaps it to the right of the man at deep point for a boundary.

A wrong'un from Sodhi, on a nagging length, turning down the leg stump. Suryakumar backs away to get it through the off side but the ball stays low. The ball squirts off an inside edge towards short fine leg for one.

Very full from Sodhi, on middle, Surya digs it out to cover.

Out comes the googly, shorter and on off, Abhishek checks his shot and chips it uppishly but well away from the bowler to his right. It rolls to long off and they cross.

Flighted delivery, full and on middle, knocked down to long on for a single.

End of a highly entertaining Powerplay. Mitchell Santner turns to spin right after the fielding restrictions are lifted. Here is Ish Sodhi to bowl his leg-breaks.

Did that brush something? Clarke sticks to the off-pace option and bowls it on a short of a length, around leg. Sharma swings to get it away but misses. It dribbles behind towards the keeper. Not given as a wide and Abhishek has a quizzical look on his face. At the end of the Powerplay, India are 69/2.

Clarke takes pace off and this is fuller, on off. SKY gets his bat down and jams it square on the leg side for a single.

SIX! A Suryakumar Yadav classic! A cross-seam delivery, not high enough to trouble the batter. It sits up to be hit, around the waist. Suryakumar crouches and whips it behind square leg for a six.

Clarke spots Sharma backing away and he follows him with a short ball. Abhishek gets his hands high and dabs it behind point for a single.

SIX! All the way! 4th six for Abhishek in his 30 runs. On middle, on a back of a length, Abhishek steps out and opens up the front hip to carve it over cover for a biggie.

Off-cutter, slammed into the surface, on off. Sharma swings across for the pull but does not rise as much as he expected and it sneaks under the blade.

Kristian Clarke to continue. Went for 7 runs in his first over.

A low full toss now, on middle and leg, Sharma pushes it out into the off side and scampers through for a single. 16 off the over.

SIX! Abhishek loves dealing in maximums and up comes the 50 for India as well. Dug in a bit short over middle and leg, Sharma leans back and clubs the half-pull over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Pace-off again from Kyle, pitched fuller and outside off. SKY stays leg side of the ball and hits it through the point region for a single.

Slower ball, on a good length and outside off. Yadav goes back in the crease and taps it down to the short third fielder. Abhishek Sharma looks for the single but is sent back.

Back of a length and around leg, cramping the batter for room. Sharma tucks it off the hips and towards mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! Dug in short and outside off, this one sails over the batter's head and goes through to the keeper.

SIX! Pumped down the ground with ease. Slower delivery from Jamieson, on a length and right in the slot around off. Abhishek picks it early and smashes it back over the bowler's head for a maximum.

Banged in on a hard length, straighter this time. SKY walks inside the line and pushes it across to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Lovely shot. On a good length again, outside off, Suryakumar Yadav leans into the shot and strokes it away through the gap between cover and mid off for a boundary.

Oh, that kept so low. Good length at the stumps, Yadav looks to come down the pitch and punch the ball but is completely taken aback and just about manages to jam it out.

A beauty from Clarke. Good-length delivery just outside off, Yadav walks down the track but the ball nips away late and beats the outside edge.

Slower delivery, relatively full and on the pads. Abhishek nudges it through square leg and turns the strike over.

Clarke begins on the fuller side and bowls it wide of the off stump. Sharma throws his hands at it and slashes it over covers for a couple of runs.

Kristian Clarke comes on as the first change on T20I debut. The right-arm quick made his ODI debut in Vadodara earlier on the tour. Clarke was initially not picked in the T20I squad but was added following a minor left-calf strain to Michael Bracewell.

FOUR! Oh, that will make Suryakumar Yadav feel so much better. Back of a length and slightly wide of the off stump, SKY rocks back and punches it firmly through the gap at covers and picks up a boundary on the first ball.

The Indian skipper makes his way out to the middle. Here's Suryakumar Yadav in his 100th T20I. He went without a fifty in T20Is in 2025.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another soft dismissal and India are just looking to smash every ball in the Powerplay. Jacob Duffy takes a bit of pace off this delivery and bowls it back of a length outside off. Ishan Kishan steps forward to go over the off side but has to reach for it. Kishan hits it in the air and straight to the extra cover fielder. Mark Chapman takes an easy catch and India are 27/2 inside the first 3 overs.

Hard length angled across off. Kishan stays back and just guides it down to short third.

FOUR! Kishan looks in pristine form at the moment. Back of a length, angled across off, Kishan leans across and plays a short-arm pull, nailing it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Nicely bowled. Slightly fuller on off, darting away. Kishan stays put and pokes at it but the ball whistles past the outside edge.

Duffy bowls it slightly slower on leg and gets it to nip away. Sharma nudges it in front of mid-wicket and hustles through for the single.

FOUR! What a way to end an eventful over, 14 runs and a wicket off it. Pitched up around middle, right in the slot, Ishan Kishan hits through the line and effortlessly lofts it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Ishan Kishan is in at number 3. His last T20I was in 2023. Do we have a problem with the ball here? The ring is out. The ball passes the test and we are ready to resume.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kyle Jamieson has the last laugh and boy, he is pumped. This is pitched fuller and around middle, angling in. It is there to be put away as well but Sanju Samson just clips it using his wrists and straight to Rachin Ravindra at mid-wicket. Rachin snaffles it to his left and that is a soft dismissal for Samson. He has to walk back for 10 (7) and India are 18/1.

FOUR! Smashed! Dug in short again by Jamieson but it's just not short enough. Sanju Samson rocks back and pulls it flat and wide of mid-wicket for another boundary.

Hard length in the channel, Sanju presses back and plays it with an angled bat, straight to short third.

Much better from Kyle. On a good length, targeting middle stump. Samson tucks it away neatly through the big gap at mid-wicket and picks up a couple of runs.

FOUR! What a pick up from Samson! Jamieson bowls it shorter and angles it in. Sanju stays a bit crouched and hoicks the pull behind square leg for a boundary.

The tall Kyle Jamieson will steam in from the other end. He is starting with a slip in place, which is a bit wide.

SIX! Well, that's one way to get going. Just a touch fuller and straighter from Duffy. Sharma walks inside the line and lifts it dead straight and sends the ball sailing over the ropes for the first biggie of the game. 8 off the first over.

Another swing and a miss. Hard length around off, darts away sharply. Sharma gets forward and swings but is beaten by a mile.

That's a brilliant bumper from Duffy. Banged in short over middle and leg, at 135 kph and Duffy gets it to shoot off the deck. Abhishek looks to back away but adjusts well and leaves it alone.

Very full, swings back into the legs, Sharma gets taken aback a bit and jams it across to mid-wicket.

WIDE. Abhishek Sharma makes his intentions clear right away. Good-length delivery, pushed wide outside off. Sharma charges down the track and misses it completely. Given as a wide.

India are underway! Fuller in length again, on middle, this one slides back in. Samson misses the flick and the ball thuds into the pads. It then rolls away behind square leg and they get a leg bye.

Lovely shape to begin with from Duffy. This is pitched up on a fullish length on middle, this one angles in and then moves away. Sanju Samson stays watchful and plays it out with soft hands to cover.

Done with the national anthems, and we are all set to get going. Nagpur is hosting a T20I for the first time since 2022, and it is nearly a full house already. Mitchell Santner leads his men out onto the park. The decibel levels go up as the two Indian openers, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, make their way out to the centre. Jacob Duffy will start the attack for the tourists. Samson will face the first ball from Duffy. A slip in place. Here we go!

It is time for the national anthems. The match officials lead the way before the two sets of players follow them. It will be New Zealand's national anthem first, followed by that of India.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Kristian Clarke (ON T20I DEBUT), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy.

India (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.

The Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, says that they are happy to bat first but wanted to bowl first as well because there is dew expected later in the game. Reckons that they need to be prepared for the World Cup, so it's good to bat first as well. Mentions that the atmosphere in the dressing room is upbeat and happy and they want to enjoy the game. Informs that Shreyas Iyer, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav miss out.

Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, says it looks like a pretty good wicket and is keen to see if it does anything early with the ball. He expects it to be a high-scoring game. Adds that what the guys did last week in the ODI series was special. Mentions that everyone knows how difficult it is to beat India at home. Says that the players have all been playing cricket in one form or another, and believes there is no better preparation ahead of a World Cup than taking on India at home. Informs that they are going with 3 seamers, with Kristian Clarke making his debut and Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson being the other two pacers. He mentions that Michael Bracewell is carrying a slight calf niggle and says they will have to wait and see regarding his availability.

TOSS - The two captains are out in the middle. Suryakumar Yadav flicks the coin and Mitchell Santner calls correctly. New Zealand will BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta shares that the VCA Stadium has hosted more T20Is than any other venue in the country. Informs that the centre wicket will be used for this game, with the square boundaries measuring 66 metres on either side and 76 metres down the ground. He further mentions that the entire square was relaid in 2024, and this is the first T20I at the venue since the relaying. Simon Doull joins him, and he adds that around 3-4 mm of grass has been left on the pitch. Observes a lot of cracks in and around it, and the surface feels soft underneath. He expects the pitch to play quite low and slow, and does not anticipate a high-scoring game. Doull also mentions that he doesn’t expect too much turn for the spinners. Deep opines that the cracks are quite wide and expects the ball to do a bit when it lands on them. He adds that there hasn’t been much dew in the last couple of evenings, but still expects the captain winning the toss to bowl first.

Nagpur has historically been a place where the battle between bat and ball is a fascinating one. Also, a decade ago, New Zealand pulled off one of the most stunning wins against India in the T20 World Cup on this very ground. One of the architects of that win, Ish Sodhi, is still in the Kiwis lineup and he will be eager to do some damage tonight as well. It will be interesting to see the team combination for both sides, so stay tuned as the toss and team sheets aren't far away.

New Zealand arrive in Nagpur buoyed by the confidence of their historic ODI series win on Indian soil. Led by Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps have proven they can dismantle the Indian juggernaut even in familiar conditions. Their T20I squad features dangerous multi-format stars like Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips, who are well-versed in subcontinental tracks. However, their T20 squad does feature plenty of players who haven't had a taste of subcontinental conditions and will be tested right ahead of the big tournament.

India’s squad sees the return of several heavyweights and domestic stars aimed at bolstering their aggressive T20 philosophy. Ishan Kishan returns to the fold after a long hiatus and is confirmed to bat at number three, filling the void left by the injured Tilak Varma. The top order will be spearheaded by the explosive Abhishek Sharma, while the bowling unit welcomes back the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, Varun Chakaravarthy, alongside pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. With vice-captain Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya providing all-round depth, the Men in Blue look formidable as they aim to maintain their streak of eight consecutive T20I series wins since their 2024 World Cup triumph.

Hello and a warm welcome to one and all. The five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand kicks off at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur. For the hosts, this series is a vital quest for redemption after a surprising 2-1 defeat in the recently concluded ODI leg. With the 2026 T20 World Cup just weeks away, this series serves as the final dress rehearsal for both nations to lock in their best combinations. The match also marks a massive personal milestone for Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, who is set to earn his 100th T20I cap in this high-stakes encounter.

... MATCH DAY ...

History is written by the victor. So truly said. In 2024, the Blackcaps stunned the cricketing world by sweeping India 3-0 in a Test series, outplaying the hosts in their own backyard. Fast forward to January 2026, and they struck again, landing another seismic blow by clinching an ODI series win on Indian soil for the very first time in 37 years. Yet, the appetite for rewriting records clearly remains unsatisfied. This is New Zealand’s fifth T20I tour of India, and the hosts have not lost a home T20I series since 2012, against the Kiwis. A five-match series awaits, beginning at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur before the contest journeys across the country, eventually reaching its finale in Trivandrum, a.k.a Thiruvananthapuram.  Suryakumar Yadav returns to lead the side, but the spotlight firmly rests on his form. By his lofty standards, 2025 was a year to forget. His highest score was 47, he failed to register a single fifty, and finished the calendar year with just 218 runs at an average of 13.63. Those numbers underline a rare slump for one of the world’s most feared T20 batters. With the World Cup looming large, SKY will be desperate to rediscover his rhythm and authority at the top. There are encouraging comeback stories too. Shreyas Iyer is back in the T20I setup after a two-year absence, while Ishan Kishan earns his recall on the back of a strong Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. In the bowling department, Ravi Bishnoi returns to bolster an already potent spin attack. Alongside Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel, India boasts a quartet capable of choking sides through the middle overs with guile and variation. The pace unit looks equally menacing. Jasprit Bumrah leads the charge, supported by Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who comes in buoyed by his batting heroics in the ODI series. Add Hardik Pandya to the mix, expected to deliver in clutch moments with both bat and ball, and India appear well stocked in the all-round department. His recent form has been reassuring, and the hosts will hope that momentum continues. Batting, however, remains India’s biggest strength. However, in Tilak Varma’s absence, at least for the first three matches due to an injury, his composed batting will be missed, given how instrumental he has been since his debut. Either Iyer or Kishan will be summoned for that role at number 4. Abhishek Sharma has made run-scoring look effortless, piling up five fifties and a century in 2025 while averaging just under 43 at a staggering strike rate of 193.47. He is likely to open the innings alongside Sanju Samson, who looks increasingly comfortable at the top. With Iyer, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh to follow, India’s batting unit shapes up as a formidable force.  Buoyed by their recent ODI triumph, New Zealand land with a fresh swagger and a point to prove in the shortest format too. Mitchell Santner resumes duty as captain, while the Blackcaps’ bowling arsenal looks fully reloaded. The returns of Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry add bite, completing a fearsome pace quartet alongside Zakary Foulkes and Kyle Jamieson, both of whom enjoyed a standout run in the ODI series. Spin, too, gets a familiar edge, with Ish Sodhi back in tandem with Santner and Bracewell, making this a well-rounded and menacing New Zealand attack. With the bat, the spotlight will be firmly on Rachin Ravindra, who has endured a lean patch, managing just one fifty-plus score in his last ten innings. At the top, Tim Robinson has caught the eye and is set to partner Devon Conway, who enjoyed a productive home series against West Indies. The middle order, meanwhile, boasts proven firepower in young Mark Chapman alongside Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, names that need little introduction after their stellar showing in the ODI series.  Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, New Zealand have played six bilateral series and won five of them, with the only setback coming against Australia, while also adding a Tri-Series triumph in Zimbabwe to their tally. India, meanwhile, have been equally dominant in this format. Including their Asia Cup title win, they have not lost a single T20I series, either at home or away, since the last T20 World Cup. However, Nagpur does not bring back fond memories for India. Rewind to 2016, when New Zealand decimated the hosts, bowling them out for just 79 while defending a modest total of 126. That remains the only time the two sides have met in Nagpur, a memory the visitors will surely draw inspiration from. Let’s see who will come out on top this time around in this final dress rehearsal before the mega tournament takes center stage.