India Vs New Zealand, 1st T20I: Abhishek’s Explosive 84 Powers IND To 48-Run Win In Nagpur

Abhishek Sharma delivered a stunning performance as India crushed New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20I in Nagpur to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The left-hander’s brutal 84 off just 35 balls powered India to a massive 238/7, their highest T20I total against the Kiwis, with Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 44, Suryakumar Yadav’s 32 and Hardik Pandya’s 25 adding late momentum. In reply, Glenn Phillips fought hard with a 78, but New Zealand never truly threatened the chase as Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube claimed two wickets each to seal a commanding win for the hosts in their final series before defending their T20 World Cup title.

Updated on: 21 January 2026 11:16 pm

Indian players celebrate after their win in the first T20 cricket match against New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India New Zealand T20 Cricket Sanju Samson

India's Sanju Samson plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of India's Sanju Samson during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Abhishek Sharma

India's Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India vs New Zealand: 1st T20I Ishan Kishan

India's Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Suryakumar Yadav

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India's Abhishek Sharma celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India and New Zealand 1st T20I Cricket Match-Hardik Pandya

India's Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India and New Zealand 1st T20I Cricket Match-Rinku Singh

India's Rinku Singh bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India and New Zealand 1st T20I Cricket Match-Indian fans

Indian fans cheer for their team during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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India and New Zealand 1st T20I Cricket Match-Indias Rinku Singh

India's Rinku Singh bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Tim Robinson

New Zealand's Tim Robinson bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Glenn Phillips

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips bats during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand's Glenn Phillips celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Mark Chapman

New Zealand's Mark Chapman plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Varun Chakravarthy

India's Varun Chakravarthy, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of New Zealand's Mark Chapman during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Mitchel Santner

New Zealand's captain Mitchel Santner plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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New Zealand India T20 Cricket Daryl Mitchell

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell plays a shot during the first T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Nagpur, India. | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A.

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