Nagpur witnessed batting fireworks as India demolished New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20, surging to a 1-0 series lead. Abhishek Sharma’s 84-run blitz off 35 balls, featuring eight sixes and five fours, lit up the VCA Stadium after India batted first post-toss loss.
From 27/2, Abhishek’s 99-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) rebuilt momentum. Hardik Pandya’s 25 and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 44 (20 balls, 3×6, 4×4) bloated the score to 238/7. NZ’s Duffy and Jamieson picked two wickets each amid the chaos.
New Zealand’s pursuit started disastrously: Conway lbw for 0 on ball two, Ravindra gone for 1. A gritty 51-run third-wicket alliance between Phillips and Robinson (21 off 15) followed, but 52/3 became graveyard.
Glenn Phillips’ heroic 78 off 40 and a 79-run stand with Mark Chapman (39) clawed to 131/4. Late pushes from Mitchell (28) and Santner (20*) ended at 190/7. India’s attack clicked: Chakaravarthy (2), Dube (2), with Arshdeep, Pandya, and Patel chipping in.
Abhishek’s emergence underscores India’s youthful firepower, promising more thrills in the series.