India produced one of the most emphatic batting performances in recent T20 history as they crushed New Zealand in the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20, successfully chasing a target of 154 runs in only 10 overs at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The dominant eight-wicket win not only handed India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series but also marked their 11th consecutive T20 series triumph, further underlining their authority in the shortest format of the game.
The match will be remembered for a breathtaking display of power hitting by Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a half-century off just 14 deliveries, the fastest ever by an Indian batter against New Zealand in T20 cricket. Captain Suryakumar Yadav continued his stunning form with another fluent fifty, guiding the chase alongside Abhishek and ensuring India wrapped up the contest with remarkable ease.
Match Overview: India vs New Zealand 3rd T20
| Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| India vs New Zealand 3rd T20 | Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati | India won by 8 wickets |
New Zealand, after being asked to bat first, could only manage 153 runs for nine wickets, a total that proved completely inadequate against India’s explosive batting lineup.
New Zealand’s Innings: Bowlers Keep India in Control
New Zealand’s innings never truly gained momentum, despite a brief resistance from Glenn Phillips, who top-scored with 48 runs. India’s bowling attack remained disciplined and aggressive, picking up wickets at regular intervals and preventing any major partnerships from developing.
Key Batting Contributions for New Zealand
| Player | Runs Scored |
|---|---|
| Glenn Phillips | 48 |
| Mark Chapman | 32 |
| Mitchell Santner | 27 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 14 |
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah led the bowling effort with exceptional control and movement, claiming three crucial wickets. He received excellent support from Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, who picked up two wickets each, while Harshit Rana chipped in with one.
India Bowling Figures (Highlights)
| Bowler | Wickets |
|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 3 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 2 |
| Harshit Rana | 1 |
New Zealand lost early wickets, including Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, which left them struggling to build a solid foundation. Despite a short middle-order revival, India’s bowlers tightened the screws during the final overs, restricting the visitors to a below-par score.
India’s Chase: A Display of Sheer Dominance
If New Zealand hoped their bowlers could defend 153, those hopes were dashed almost immediately. India’s response was aggressive from the very first over, even though they lost Sanju Samson without scoring.
Powerplay Explosion
India raced to 94 runs inside the first six overs, one of their most destructive powerplay performances in T20 cricket. The combination of Abhishek Sharma’s fearless stroke play and Suryakumar Yadav’s effortless timing completely overwhelmed the New Zealand bowling attack.
Fastest Team Fifty in India’s T20 History
India reached their team fifty in just 3.1 overs, the fastest in their T20 history. The previous record had been set against Bangladesh in 2023, when India crossed fifty in 3.4 overs.
| Record | Overs Taken |
|---|---|
| India vs New Zealand 3rd T20 | 3.1 overs |
| Previous Best (vs Bangladesh, 2023) | 3.4 overs |
Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking Knock
Abhishek Sharma’s innings was the defining moment of the match. His fifty came off only 14 balls, placing him second on the all-time list of fastest T20 half-centuries by an Indian batter.
Fastest T20 Fifties by Indians
| Player | Balls |
|---|---|
| Yuvraj Singh (2007) | 12 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 14 |
| Hardik Pandya | 16 |
Abhishek also broke the record for the fastest T20 fifty against New Zealand, surpassing David Warner’s previous mark of 20 balls. His final score of 68 not out showcased clean hitting, excellent shot selection, and supreme confidence.
Suryakumar Yadav Continues Golden Run
Captain Suryakumar Yadav once again proved why he is considered one of the most dangerous T20 batters in the world. He reached his half-century in 25 balls and finished unbeaten on 57 runs, sealing the victory with a boundary.
This was Suryakumar’s second consecutive fifty in the series, highlighting his consistency and leadership at the top level.
India Batting Highlights
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 68* |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 57* |
| Ishan Kishan | 28 |
India completed the chase with eight wickets in hand, making it one of their most commanding T20 victories in recent years.
Series Status: India Extend Unbeaten Run
With this victory in the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20, India now lead the five-match series 3-0, securing the series with two matches still to play.
Recent Match Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st T20 | India won by 48 runs |
| 2nd T20 | India won by 7 wickets |
| 3rd T20 | India won by 8 wickets |
This win marked India’s 11th straight T20 series victory, a streak that includes bilateral series and multi-team tournaments. The last time India failed to win a T20 series was against West Indies in July 2023.
India’s Dominance Over New Zealand in T20 Cricket
India’s control over New Zealand in T20 cricket has been especially pronounced on home soil.
Head-to-Head T20 Record
| Category | India | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Total T20 Matches | 14 | 10 |
| Matches in India | 9 | 4 |
| Tied Matches | 3 | — |
New Zealand have never won a T20 series in India. Their last series victory against India came in 2019 on home turf. Since then, India have beaten New Zealand in five consecutive T20 series.
Playing XI: India vs New Zealand 3rd T20
India Playing XI
| Player |
|---|
| Suryakumar Yadav (Captain) |
| Abhishek Sharma |
| Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper) |
| Ishan Kishan |
| Hardik Pandya |
| Shivam Dube |
| Rinku Singh |
| Harshit Rana |
| Ravi Bishnoi |
| Kuldeep Yadav |
| Jasprit Bumrah |
New Zealand Playing XI
| Player |
|---|
| Mitchell Santner (Captain) |
| Devon Conway |
| Tim Seifert (Wicketkeeper) |
| Rachin Ravindra |
| Glenn Phillips |
| Daryl Mitchell |
| Mark Chapman |
| Kyle Jamieson |
| Jacob Duffy |
| Ish Sodhi |
| Matt Henry |
What This Win Means for India
The emphatic nature of the victory in the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20 sends a strong message to teams around the world. India’s blend of fearless young batters and experienced match-winners has created a unit capable of dominating opponents across conditions.
With explosive players like Abhishek Sharma emerging and senior stars such as Suryakumar Yadav maintaining elite form, India appear well-prepared for future global tournaments in the T20 format.
Also read: Ind vs NZ 2nd T20I: Full Match Preview, Pitch Report, Weather Update, and Probable Playing XI
Conclusion
The India vs New Zealand 3rd T20 will be remembered as a showcase of modern T20 batting at its most ruthless. Chasing 154 runs in just 10 overs, India displayed unmatched intent, depth, and confidence. Abhishek Sharma’s historic half-century and Suryakumar Yadav’s composed leadership performance highlighted a night where everything went India’s way.
As the series progresses, New Zealand will be searching for answers, while India continue to march forward, extending their dominance and reinforcing their status as one of the strongest T20 teams in world cricket.
