India ensured a winning start to their five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a 48-run victory in Nagpur.

After losing the teams' ODI series 2-1, Abhishek Sharma’s scintillating 84 off 35 balls sent India on their way to victory, despite the best efforts of Glenn Phillips for the Black Caps.

New Zealand won the toss and made a good start with the ball, dismissing Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (eight) in the powerplay, but Abhishek’s eight maximums and five boundaries gave India the foundation for a big innings.

And although Ish Sodhi (1-38) eventually removed the batter, Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 44 from 20 deliveries saw India set a target of 239.

New Zealand’s hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory suffered early blows when both Devon Conway (0) and Rachin Ravindra (1) were sent back to the dressing room within the first nine balls of the innings.

Phillips scored 78 off 40 deliveries to give the Black Caps some hope, but he fell to Axar Patel (1-42) and Varun Chakravarthy 2-37 helped India secure a big win.

A commanding performance! #TeamIndia win by  runs in Nagpur to take a - lead in the 5-match T20I series 

Scorecard   https://t.co/ItzV352h5X #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/BuAT0BluHk

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026

Data Debrief: Runs galore in Nagpur

After New Zealand managed to post 190-7 in their reply, the 428 runs scored across both innings is the highest total in any T20I match involving these two sides.

Chakravarthy, meanwhile, has now taken 54 wickets following the 2024 T20I World Cup, at least 10 more than any other bowler in the format (Jacob Duffy – 44).