IND vs NZ: Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav power India to series-clinching win in Guwahati
India sealed an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Guwahati after restricting the visitors to 153/9 and chasing the target in just 10 overs. Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav starred with unbeaten fifties in a blistering run chase.
India’s bowlers set up a chase, batters finish it in 10 overs
India clinched the T20 International series against New Zealand with a dominant performance in Guwahati, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match contest. The match script differed from the earlier high-scoring games in Nagpur and Raipur: this time, India’s bowlers first ensured New Zealand did not post a threatening total before the batters turned the chase into a sprint.
New Zealand were restricted to 153 for 9, a score described as below-par on a pitch that looked good for batting. India’s chase then became a statement of intent: the target was overhauled in only 10 overs with the loss of two wickets, compressing a full 20-over chase into something closer to a T10 contest.
The main drivers were Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Sharma blasted an unbeaten 68 off 20 balls, while Yadav added an unbeaten 57 off 26 balls. The innings featured sustained boundary-hitting, leaving the New Zealand attack with little room to recover after an early burst of scoring.
Record pace and series context
Sharma’s innings also carried a milestone: the report notes he entered the record books with the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian. The performance was especially notable given the volatility typical of explosive openers—Sharma had a golden duck in the second match in Raipur, but followed it with another attacking innings to complete a decisive series-clinching stretch.
The win strengthens India’s momentum in the format and gives the team the chance to use the remaining matches to test combinations while maintaining intensity. For New Zealand, the result underlined how quickly a slightly below-par score can become irrelevant when India’s top order finds early rhythm.
Restrict first, then finish fast: India’s Guwahati win was built on disciplined bowling and an extraordinary 10-over chase led by Sharma and Yadav.
- Match venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- New Zealand total: 153/9
- India chase: achieved in 10 overs, 2 wickets down
- Series status: India lead 3-0 in a five-match series (series clinched)