New Zealand’s 225/8 in Christchurch sent the hosts into a rare high‑scoring T20I, while five Indian bowlers gave away 40+ runs each. With Finn Allen’s 45 off 24 and Glenn Phillips’s unbeaten 82 off 40, the Kiwi openers dismantled India’s attack.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished with 0/49 in four overs, Arshdeep Singh 0/45, Mayank Yadav 0/40, Axar Patel 0/51 and Nitish Reddy 0/40 – the first time five Indian bowlers conceded 40+ in a single T20I innings.
The turning point was the powerplay. Seifert’s over on Bhuvneshwar cost India 17 runs, then Allen’s over on Arshdeep also yielded 17, giving New Zealand a surge of confidence.
India’s swing arsenal fizzled early; Jasprit Bumrah was missing, and the 4‑over spells were a blur of wides and boundaries. Bhuvneshwar, returning after almost four years, was hit by a long‑on six and a four‑over 17 that rattled his rhythm.
New Zealand reached 65/1 after six overs, and the bowlers kept under pressure. Bhuvneshwar’s third over cost 14 runs; his final over added another 14, leaving him with 0/49.
The hosts finished the innings with 67 runs in the last five overs, crossing the 200‑run mark and leaving India’s bowlers scrambling.
India has to regroup quickly; the next T20I will decide whether they can salvage the series before the final showdown.