India pull off record 225 run chase in thrilling T20I series opener

By Doug Mattushek
22nd October 2026

India earned their highest-ever T20I run chase when they successfully chalked off New Zealand's 225/4 with four wickets remaining in a run-soaked encounter in Christchurch on Thursday night.

Even a swashbuckling 82 not out from the human-highlight reel that is Glenn Phillips could not get the hosts over the line, as India's explosive batting lineup chased down their total with two balls left.

The destructive opening pair of Sanju Samson (67 from 33 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (29 from 12) lived up to the hype to bludgeon a scarcely believable 93 off the opening 35 balls to get them ahead of the required rate.

But in the space of just 29 runs, New Zealand scooped four scalps to get themselves back in the contest, with Michael Bracewell grabbing two. Axar Patel and captain Shreyas Iyer patched up the innings with a rare dose of patience before finally accelerating to combine for 45 off 24. Patel (24 off 14) was rushed by a brilliant ball from Lackie Ferguson to open the door again for the hosts.

Now needing 59 off the final 33 balls, Naman Dhir wasn't going to die wandering. The all-rounder powered India home with a sublime unbeaten 42 from just 15, earning them a 1-0 lead in T20I series.

Earlier, the hosts were sent in to bat first after losing the toss. Openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen weren't their usual explosive selves right out of the blocks, but blasted 17 runs off the third over to gain momentum.

Mayank Yadav struck first for India as his extra pace earned a feather of nic off Seifert's willow, leaving them 49/1 in the fifth over. Allen looked sprightly, stroking three consecutive fours off Arshdeep Singh. However, he skyed one into the night for Patel's only wicket, sending Allen back for 45 off 24.

But the dismissal brought chief destroyer Phillips to the crease. He initially poked and prodded, but announced himself with a clean six on the ten-over mark, after which New Zealand went past 100 runs.

Mitchell's almighty swipe in the 13th over only got him out, but that did not deter Phillips. Together with Bevan Jacobs, the pair collected 23 runs off the next 33 balls as the Blacks Caps raced towards 200. Jacobs helped with three sixes -including one from the first ball he faced - but Phillips' superlative 82 not off 40 balls was the Black Caps' highlight in a losing cause.