3rd T20I: India aim to wrap up series against NZ
Guwahati: Riding high on confidence gained after taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, India will look to seal the five-match T20I series when they face New Zealand in the third T20I match at the ACA Stadium, Barsapara in Guwahati on Sunday.
India delivered a powerful statement in the second T20I at Raipur, where they pulled off a stunning chase of 208 in just 15.2 overs to take a 2-0 lead, underlining their dominance in the series and momentum ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
It was the second-highest successful chase in India’s T20I history. Only India’s 211/4 against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009 stands above it, with the Raipur effort also eclipsing chases of 209/4 vs West Indies (Hyderabad, 2019), 209/8 vs Australia (Vizag, 2023), and 204/4 vs New Zealand (Auckland, 2020).
The emphatic finish was also the biggest win by balls remaining for a full member nation while chasing a target of over 200. It surpassed Pakistan’s 24-ball victory against New Zealand in Auckland in 2025 and Australia’s 23-ball win over West Indies in Basseterre that same year.
Batting first, New Zealand struggled for stability early on before Rachin Ravindra counterattacked with a brisk 44 off 26 balls to rebuild the innings. India’s bowlers shared the workload effectively, with Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube claiming one wicket each, while Kuldeep Yadav stood out with two crucial breakthroughs.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner anchored the latter half of the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 27 balls, guiding the visitors to a competitive total of 208 for 6.
India’s reply, however, quickly swung the contest in their favour despite the early setbacks of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Ishan Kishan launched a fierce counterattack, smashing 76 runs at a blistering strike rate.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav then produced a vintage knock, remaining unbeaten on 82 off 37 deliveries to register his first T20I half-century after a long gap, which helped India secure a seven-wicket win.
India will be hoping that they continue to ride the momentum in the third match and continue to do so till the T20 World Cup 2026.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will be eager to bounce back from the disastrous start. The visitors will be looking for a stronger bowling effort and greater consistency from their batting lineup as they seek to counter India’s aggressive style.
