India beat New Zealand in Guwahati to seal series as Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav star
India wrapped up a T20I series win over New Zealand in Guwahati after restricting the visitors to a modest total and then chasing it rapidly. Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav powered the chase with aggressive unbeaten knocks, turning the pursuit into a short-format sprint and closing the series emphatically.
Bowlers set it up, batters finish fast
India secured a series victory over New Zealand with a commanding win in Guwahati on January 26, 2026. The result followed earlier India wins in the series and underlined a clear pattern: early pressure with the ball, followed by an attacking chase that gives opponents little chance to recover.
India’s bowlers first combined disciplined plans with sharp fielding to restrict New Zealand to 153/9, a total that proved below par for the surface. The containment created a straightforward chase, but India chose not to treat it as a slow, low-risk pursuit.
Abhishek Sharma led the hitting with 68* off 20 balls, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav added 57* off 26, keeping the scoring rate sky-high. India reached the target in 10 overs with only two wickets down, effectively compressing the chase into a T10-like burst.
The match also continued Abhishek’s hot-and-cold, high-impact run through the series, with a golden duck in the previous game followed by another explosive innings. For India, the win offers both confidence and clarity about the batting intent they want at the top and through the middle in T20 cricket.
Match snapshot
- New Zealand: 153/9 (restricted by India’s bowling plan).
- India chase: 154/2 in 10 overs.
- Top performers: Abhishek Sharma (68* off 20), Suryakumar Yadav (57* off 26).