India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in Wellington on Tuesday to claim an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five-match T20I series. Chasing a target of 199 at Hnry Stadium, the visitors overhauled the total in just 13.2 overs to seal the series victory.
Record-Breaking Chase Down Under
The Indian run chase was defined by a period of unprecedented statistical dominance in the first six overs. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi posted 118 without loss in the Powerplay, breaking the previous men’s T20I world record of 116 set by Romania against Serbia in 2021. Taking advantage of the small square boundaries, the pair also recorded the fastest team hundred in T20I history, reaching the 100-run mark in exactly 5.0 overs.
Sharma And Sooryavanshi Dismantle New Zealand Attack
The opening stand of 133 runs in 7.1 overs effectively ended the contest. Sharma was the primary aggressor, scoring 113 from 38 deliveries. He reached his century in just 35 balls, hitting 11 sixes and nine boundaries before eventually falling to Kyle Jamieson. His opening partner, 15-year-old Sooryavanshi, contributed 45 from 19 balls. Once the openers were dismissed, the middle order completed the mathematical formality, with Naman Dhir hitting the winning runs in the 14th over.
Mitchell’s Unbeaten 89 In Vain
Earlier in the day, New Zealand posted a competitive 198/3 after being invited to bat first by Indian captain Shreyas Iyer. Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls. Following the early loss of Tim Seifert, Mitchell built an 86-run partnership with Finn Allen, who scored 40 from 25 deliveries. Mitchell then added 75 runs for the fourth wicket alongside Bevon Jacobs, who remained unbeaten on 39. Arshdeep Singh was the most effective bowler for India, returning figures of 1 for 33 in a high-scoring encounter.
With the series secured, the remaining two fixtures become dead rubbers. Both teams will now evaluate whether to rotate their squads and test fringe players as the tour concludes.