India scripted history in the first T20I of their tour of New Zealand 2026-27 on October 22, 2026. The visitors chased down a target of 226 runs to finish at 230/6 in Christchurch. They secured a four-wicket victory with two balls remaining.
With this win, India took a 1-0 lead in the series. They also recorded their highest successful run chase in T20 International cricket, breaking their previous record of 209/3 against New Zealand in Raipur earlier in 2026.
New Zealand posted a strong total of 225/4 after batting first. Glenn Phillips led their innings with an unbeaten 82. However, India’s batters responded with an impressive performance to complete the record chase.
Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir Lead India’s Chase
Sanju Samson was India’s top performer with the bat. He scored 67 runs and provided a strong foundation for the chase. His innings helped India stay on course while chasing the challenging target.
Shreyas Iyer also played an important role. He scored 42 runs and kept the momentum going during the middle overs.
Naman Dhir then delivered a crucial finishing performance. He remained unbeaten on 45 runs and helped India cross the finish line with two balls to spare.
The combined effort from India’s batting order proved decisive. The team maintained its scoring rate despite New Zealand’s attempts to put pressure on the visitors.
India’s previous highest successful T20I chase was 209/3 against New Zealand in Raipur in 2026. Before that, India had chased 209/8 against Australia in Visakhapatnam in 2023.
The Christchurch victory surpassed the previous record by 21 runs. India’s other notable successful chases include 208/4 against the West Indies in Hyderabad in 2019.
The result gives India an early advantage in the series. Their ability to chase 226 runs against a strong New Zealand side will also boost the team’s confidence ahead of the remaining matches.
