IND vs NZ: Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav power India to series-clinching win in Guwahati

India turn a chase into a sprint in Guwahati

India sealed the T20I series against New Zealand in Guwahati with a dominant eight-wicket win, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match contest. After two high-scoring games earlier in the series, the Guwahati match followed a different script: India’s bowlers set the tone, and the chase became an exercise in relentless hitting rather than prolonged accumulation.

New Zealand were held to 153/9, a total described as below-par given the conditions. India then chased it down in just 10 overs, losing only two wickets—effectively compressing a T20 chase into a T10-style assault. The finishing time underlined the gap between the sides on the day and showed how quickly the match could be taken away once the target was set.

Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav headline the chase

Abhishek Sharma delivered the standout innings: 68 not out off 20 balls, packed with boundaries and clean striking that immediately changed the pressure equation. Captain Suryakumar Yadav provided the sustained second wave, scoring 57 not out off 26, keeping the scoring rate extreme and denying New Zealand any chance to regain control.

The match also carried an individual milestone note: Sharma reached a record-book moment by registering the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian, behind only Yuvraj Singh. For a young opener, that kind of acceleration is the difference between a chase that is merely comfortable and a chase that becomes a statement.

Bowlers create the platform

Before the hitting, India’s bowlers did the heavy lifting. Jasprit Bumrah returned after missing the previous match and picked up three wickets for 17 runs. Ravi Bishnoi, brought into the XI in place of Varun Chakravarthy, made an immediate impact with two for 18 in his four overs, helping ensure New Zealand never built sustained momentum.

• New Zealand: 153/9 after India’s disciplined bowling and fielding
• India chase: completed in 10 overs with eight-wicket win
• Abhishek Sharma: 68* off 20 balls, including a blistering fifty
• Suryakumar Yadav: 57* off 26 balls to finish the chase
• Series status: India lead 3-0 in the five-match series, clinching it

When you restrict a side to 153 and then finish the chase inside 10 overs, it’s not just a win—it’s a demonstration of control in both innings.

With the series already decided at 3-0, the remaining matches now become an opportunity for experimentation and confidence-building. For New Zealand, the priority will be to arrest the momentum and find a way to push India into deeper overs, where tactical battles become harder and mistakes are more likely.