India beat New Zealand in Guwahati to seal T20I series with Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav blitz
India sealed the T20I series against New Zealand in Guwahati after restricting the visitors to 153/9 and then racing to the target in just 10 overs, powered by explosive unbeaten knocks from Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
- Reporting desk
- Health India Network News Desk
- First published
Bowlers set it up, batters finish in a sprint
India clinched an unassailable lead in the T20I series against New Zealand with a commanding win in Guwahati, where the hosts first kept the visitors to a below-par 153 for 9 and then completed the chase in just 10 overs. The result sealed the series on 26 January 2026, underlining India’s dominance across conditions and match situations in the contest.
While the early matches in the series had featured heavy scoring, the Guwahati game began with a more controlled template from India: a disciplined bowling performance backed by sharp fielding. That approach squeezed New Zealand’s scoring options and ensured wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving the visitors with a total that looked gettable on a good batting surface.
Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav make it a T10 chase
India’s reply was defined by the hitting power of Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav, who produced unbeaten cameos that turned the chase into a rapid-fire finish. Abhishek’s 68 not out off 20 balls and Suryakumar’s 57 not out off 26 balls ensured New Zealand’s bowlers had no time to regroup after early breakthroughs.
Abhishek also entered the record books with one of the fastest T20I fifties by an Indian, reinforcing his growing reputation as a high-impact top-order option. Suryakumar, meanwhile, sustained the pressure with boundary-hitting across the ground, keeping the required rate irrelevant from the powerplay onwards.
What the win signals for India
The Guwahati victory highlighted a balanced template: controlled bowling to restrict the opposition, followed by aggressive batting that maximised the advantage. For India, the series result also offers a confidence boost ahead of upcoming international assignments, especially as the team continues to test combinations and roles within a fast-scoring modern T20 framework.
For New Zealand, the match served as a reminder that even competitive totals can become insufficient if bowling plans and execution drift under sustained boundary pressure from deep batting line-ups.