IND vs NZ 3rd T20I 2026 – India Crush New Zealand in Guwahati | Complete Match Report

Match Overview: IND vs NZ, 25 January 2026

• Series: New Zealand tour of India, 2026

• Match: 3rd T20I

• Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

• Result: India won by 8 wickets (with 60 balls remaining)

• India Score: 155/2 (10 overs)

• New Zealand Score: 153/9 (20 overs)

• Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand Innings: Competitive Start but Tapered Off

New Zealand posted a competitive total of 153/9 in 20 overs after batting first. Key contributions included Tim Seifert (12) and Mark Chapman (32), but India’s disciplined bowling attack kept the Black Caps in check.

• Bumrah led the Indian attack with impressive figures, picking up crucial wickets.

• Ravi Bishnoi and Hardik Pandya also struck timely blows, limiting NZ’s run flow and applying pressure.

India Chase: Record-Breaking Run Chase

India’s chase of 154 runs was nothing short of extraordinary:

India reached the target in just 10 overs — one of the fastest successful chases of 150+ in T20 history.

Top Performers with the Bat

• Abhishek Sharma – Sensational 68 runs off just 20 balls, featuring an explosive 14-ball half-century.

• Suryakumar Yadav (Captain) – Controlled innings with 57* off 26 balls to steer the chase.

• Ishan Kishan – Quick 28 off 13 to set the tone.

Match Turning Point

After an early wicket (Sanju Samson out for a golden duck), Abhishek and Suryakumar launched a punishing assault that dismantled the NZ bowling lineup. Their thunderous hitting ensured India dismissed the target before half the allotted overs.

Bowling Contributions That Secured Victory

Indian Bowlers

• Jasprit Bumrah: Key strike bowler with three important dismissals.

• Hardik Pandya & Ravi Bishnoi: Two wickets each, applying pressure at critical intervals.

• Harshit Rana: Economical with one crucial scalp.

Series Implications and Highlights

With this comprehensive win, India not only gained a series advantage but showcased form and confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup. Their dominant performance in this third match echoed throughout the series, reflecting both batting depth and bowling strength.

Key Highlights

• India’s fastest chase over 150 in T20I history, finishing inside 10 overs.

• Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 14-ball fifty adds him to T20I record books.

• India closes the first half of the NZ tour with confidence.

Conclusion

The 3rd T20I between India and New Zealand was a perfect blend of tactical bowling and explosive batting from the Indian side. With a convincing 8-wicket victory and a 3-0 series lead, India demonstrated elite T20 credentials, thrilling fans and critics alike ahead of the marquee events of the cricketing calendar.