India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets with 2 balls remaining in the 1st T20I of their tour at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on 22 Oct 2026. Chasing 225/4, India reached 230/6 in 19.4 overs after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.
New Zealand's innings was built around GD Phillips, who finished 82 not out off 40 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes. Finn Allen made 45 off 24 balls before he was caught by Tilak Varma off Axar Patel with the score on 80/2. Tim Seifert had earlier fallen for 24 to Mayank Yadav at 49/1, and Daryl Mitchell made 28 before he was caught by Kumar off Arshdeep Singh at 122/3. Bevon Jacobs hit 3 sixes in 31 off 16 balls before he was run out by Arshdeep Singh at 195/4.
Mayank Yadav took 1 for 40 from his 4 overs, and Arshdeep Singh took 1 for 45 from his 4.
In reply, Abhishek Sharma struck 29 off 12 balls, with 3 sixes, before he was caught by Milne off Michael Bracewell at 93/1. Sanju Samson top-scored for India with 67 off 33 balls, hitting 8 fours and 4 sixes, before he was bowled by Mitchell Santner at 115/2. Tilak Varma (6) and Ishan Kishan (1) followed soon after, leaving India on 122/4.
Axar Patel made 24 off 14 balls before he was caught by substitute DP Conway off Ferguson at 167/5, and Shreyas Iyer added 42 off 28 balls before he was caught by Santner off Milne at 210/6. Naman Dhir finished 42 not out off 15 balls, with 5 fours and 2 sixes, to see India home.
For New Zealand, Michael Bracewell took 2 for 37 and Mitchell Santner 2 for 39, each from 4 overs.