Who won India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I today? — Match result & turning points
India once again showed why they look like the best team in the five-match T20I series, defeating New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I at Guwahati to seal a 3-0 lead with two games to spare.
After opting to field, the hosts displayed a lethal bowling performance to restrict the visitors to 153/9. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi and Hardik Pandya also chipped in. Apart from a small stand between Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman, New Zealand never really looked on top, with regular wickets falling.
While India lost Sanju Samson on the very first, that only brought together Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma, who put New Zealand’s bowlers on the back foot. Abhishek was in scintillating form, racing to a half-century in just 14 balls and finishing unbeaten on 68 off 20 deliveries. Suryakumar also smashed 57* as the duo stitched a match-winning 102-run stand. The chase was wrapped up in just 10 overs, without even a drinks break, as India raced to 155/2 with 60 balls remaining.
Top batting performances of the match — Abhishek Sharma
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma showed his power-hitting ability that pushed New Zealand out of the contest. Following Sanju Samson’s first-ball dismissal, Abhishek got going with his attack mode from the very first over. His half-century came off just 14 balls, making it the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian. Abhishek remained unbeaten on 68 off just 20 deliveries, smashing seven fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 340, and ensured India finished the chase with 60 balls to spare.
Top bowling performances of the match — Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah looked clinical with the ball for India, finishing with figures of 3/17 in four overs. He made an immediate impact by picking a wicket off his very first delivery, uprooting Tim Seifert’s off stump with an in-swinger. Bumrah returned at the death to trigger another collapse, cleaning up Kyle Jamieson. He ended his spell by dismissing skipper Mitchell Santner, who mistimed an attempted big hit and was caught at deep midwicket.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- India recorded their biggest-ever win by balls remaining against a Full Member while chasing 150+, finishing with 60 balls to spare, the most in T20I history.
- India registered the largest margin of victory against New Zealand in a run chase, becoming the first team to chase down a target against NZ inside 10 overs.
- India extended their record for most consecutive T20I series wins among Full Member teams to 11, equalling Pakistan’s all-time mark.
- India achieved their 10th straight T20I series win at home, the most by any Full Member nation in history.
- New Zealand’s cheapest over of the innings still cost 11 runs, underlining the relentless pressure applied by India throughout the chase.
- Jasprit Bumrah became the fourth Indian to take 35 or more wickets in home T20Is, joining Chahal, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya.
- Abhishek Sharma smashed the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian, reaching the landmark in just 14 balls, behind only Yuvraj Singh.
- Abhishek Sharma equalled Suryakumar Yadav for the most 25-ball-or-faster fifties in T20Is, with nine such knocks each.
- Abhishek Sharma registered the joint fourth-fastest fifty against a Full Member team, matching Colin Munro’s 14-ball effort.
- India recorded their second-highest Powerplay total ever with 94/2, only behind 95/1 against England in 2025.
- The 94/2 Powerplay was also the highest ever scored against New Zealand, surpassing Australia’s 91/0 in 2018.
- India achieved their second-fastest individual fifty and second-fastest Powerplay score in T20I history in the same match, showcasing unprecedented dominance.
- India brought up their fastest-ever team fifty in T20Is, reaching the mark in just 3.1 overs.
- Abhishek Sharma hit a six to get off the mark for the eighth time in T20Is, with five of those coming off the very first ball faced.
- Only once has a team successfully defended a sub-160 total against India in India, New Zealand’s 127-run defence at Nagpur in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the Match award for his spell of 3/17 in his quota of four overs. The right-armer started his day on a high note, removing Tim Seifert on the first ball of his spell. He later returned to remove Jamieson and Santner. The star pacer, who came back after being rested in the last fixture, rose to the occasion well, playing an important role in helping India extend their lead.
What is the next match?
The five-match series between India and New Zealand will now move to Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, as the two will lock horns on Wednesday, January 28.
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