A record chase to start the series
India began their tour of New Zealand with a four-wicket victory in a high-scoring first T20I at Hagley Oval on 22 October 2026. Set 226, they recovered from a mid-innings collapse to finish on 230 for 6 in 19.4 overs. Sanju Samson laid the foundation with 67 from 33 balls, and Naman Dhir’s unbeaten 42 from 15 completed what was India’s highest successful men’s T20I chase at the time.
New Zealand make early progress
After Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert got the hosts moving. Allen made 45 from 24 balls, including five fours and two sixes, while Seifert contributed 24 from 17. Mayank Yadav dismissed Seifert and Axar Patel removed Allen, but New Zealand had built a platform for their middle order.
Phillips carries the innings
Glenn Phillips took advantage of that start, finishing unbeaten on 82 from 40 deliveries with eight fours and three sixes. Daryl Mitchell added 28 from 19 balls, and Bevon Jacobs struck 31 from 16 before being run out. New Zealand reached 225 for 4 from their 20 overs, leaving India needing more than 11 runs an over from the outset.
Samson and Abhishek launch the reply
Samson and Abhishek Sharma responded with an opening stand of 93. Abhishek’s 29 came from just 12 balls, while Samson struck eight fours and four sixes during his 67. India reached 94 in the powerplay, bringing a demanding target within reach and forcing New Zealand to look for a way to interrupt the openers’ momentum.
New Zealand fight back through spin
Michael Bracewell dismissed Abhishek and Tilak Varma, while Mitchell Santner removed Samson and Ishan Kishan. The four wickets turned 93 without loss into 122 for 4, a reminder that the chase was far from settled despite the early scoring rate. Both Bracewell and Santner finished with two wickets as New Zealand’s spinners created an opening for the hosts.
Iyer and Axar restore the chase
Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel then added 45 together. Iyer made 42 from 28 balls and Axar scored 24 from 14, with the pair taking 20 runs from Matt Henry’s 14th over. Their stand did not finish the match, but it reduced the pressure created by the wickets and left India with a path to the target when Axar departed.
Dhir delivers the finish
Iyer fell early in the penultimate over with 15 still required, but Dhir stayed at the crease and accelerated. His 42 not out included five fours and two sixes, and he ended the contest by clearing the boundary with two deliveries remaining. Samson was named player of the match, while India took a 1–0 lead in the five-match series.
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