India beat New Zealand in Guwahati to seal T20I series, powered by Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav
India wrapped up the T20I series against New Zealand with a win in Guwahati after restricting the visitors to 153/9 and racing to the target in just 10 overs, led by Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
India sealed the T20I series against New Zealand with a commanding win in Guwahati on January 26, 2026, combining a disciplined bowling effort with an explosive chase. After India restricted New Zealand to 153 for nine, the hosts finished the job at speed, chasing the target in 10 overs with only two wickets down.
Bowlers set the platform with a controlled effort
On a surface that looked good for batting, India’s bowlers executed plans that prevented New Zealand from building the kind of momentum often seen in modern T20 cricket. The visitors were forced into a below-par total, leaving India with a chase that was gettable but still required intent, especially with the pressure that can accompany a series-deciding game.
Abhishek Sharma’s power start, Suryakumar’s finishing control
Abhishek Sharma provided the early damage with an unbeaten 68 off 20 balls, while captain Suryakumar Yadav stayed unbeaten on 57 off 26 to keep the chase smooth and ruthless. The tempo effectively turned a conventional T20 chase into a sprint, with boundaries flowing and New Zealand’s bowlers offered few recovery moments once the scoring rate took off.
What the result signals
Beyond the series win, the match reinforced India’s depth in aggressive top-order options and highlighted the importance of tight powerplay bowling and sharp fielding in setting up chases. For New Zealand, the game underlined how quickly matches can get away when totals are even slightly under the par score on a batting-friendly track.
- New Zealand: 153/9
- India chased the target in 10 overs with 2 wickets down
- Abhishek Sharma: 68* (20)
- Suryakumar Yadav: 57* (26)