India chased 199, sealing a 6‑wicket triumph over New Zealand in just 13.2 overs – Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 113 off 38 balls steered the chase.
The opening order blew the net‑session hype into reality. Sooryavanshi smashed 45 off 19, propelling the pair to 118/0 in the powerplay and 50 in just 2.2 overs – the joint‑fastest fifty in a men’s T20I.
Abhishek recalled the pre‑match chat – “Bhaiya, khelunga bhi waise hi.” That one‑liner sparked a fearless start against New Zealand’s pace attack, lifting the confidence of the entire opening duo.
A solid bowling display sealed the deal. Axar, Bhuvneshwar, Arshdeep, Prince and Nitish kept the run‑rate in check, taking key wickets to make the target manageable.
Team spirit glowed on the field. Sanju Samson’s willingness to shuffle the batting order and Abhishek’s praise for his teammate’s self‑lessness highlighted the collective intent behind the win.
India will now look to carry this momentum into the next phase of the tour.