India vs. New Zealand: Samson and Naman Dhir power record chase of 226 in 1st T20I

India opened its five-match T20I series in New Zealand with a thriller on Thursday, chasing down 226 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch to win by four wickets with two balls to spare. Sanju Samson set it up with a blistering 67, and Naman Dhir finished it with an unbeaten 42 off 15 balls.

The game was played on Thursday evening in New Zealand, which was the early hours of Thursday morning in the US.

India vs. New Zealand scorecard: the short version

India 230/6 (19.4 overs) beat New Zealand 225/4 (20 overs) by four wickets.

• New Zealand: Glenn Phillips 82 not out (40 balls), Finn Allen 45 (24), Bevon Jacobs 31, Daryl Mitchell 28 (19)
• India: Sanju Samson 67 (33), Naman Dhir 42 not out (15), Shreyas Iyer 42 (28), Abhishek Sharma 29, Axar Patel 24 (14)
• Best bowling: Michael Bracewell 2-37 and Mitchell Santner 2-39 for New Zealand

India leads the series 1-0. According to the ICC, it was India’s highest successful run chase in T20I history, and RNZ reported that New Zealand’s 225 was its biggest T20 total against India on home soil.

How did New Zealand get to 225?

India won the toss and chose to bowl first on a dewy night. New Zealand’s openers made the most of it: Tim Seifert and Allen helped the hosts to 65-1 in the powerplay, with Allen hitting 45 off 24 balls, per RNZ.

Then Glenn Phillips took over the middle and death overs. His unbeaten 82 off 40 balls included eight fours and three sixes, and Jacobs chipped in 31 before he was run out. India’s breakthroughs came through Mayank Yadav and Axar Patel, according to the ICC.

Sanju Samson’s flying start

India’s reply began at a sprint. Samson and Abhishek Sharma put on 93 for the first wicket in just 35 balls, ESPNcricinfo reported, and India reached 94-1 at the end of the powerplay. Samson’s 67 came off 33 balls with eight fours and four sixes, according to RNZ.

ESPNcricinfo noted that Samson again took most of the strike early, as he has done in recent games. The ICC pointed out that he was Player of the Tournament at the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.

The collapse that made it close

New Zealand fought back through spin. Bracewell removed Abhishek for 29, and captain Santner struck twice, bowling Samson with a ball that Samson inside-edged onto his stumps and then removing Ishan Kishan. ESPNcricinfo said India “got in a tactical muddle” and lost four wickets for 29 runs in 22 balls, sliding from 93-0 to 122-4 by the ICC’s count.

Iyer (42 off 28) and Axar (24 off 14) steadied the chase with a counterattack, including a 20-run over against Matt Henry in the 14th, according to the ICC.

Who is Naman Dhir?

Dhir is the all-rounder who finished the job. According to ESPNcricinfo’s live coverage, he walked in with India needing 59 off 33 balls, and when Iyer fell in the penultimate over with 15 runs still required, Dhir took charge. He ended the game with a six off Henry, which ESPNcricinfo described as a top-edged hook that flew over the wicketkeeper.

ESPNcricinfo’s Karthik Krishnaswamy wrote that Dhir “has made some start to his international career,” noting that he has also bowled unexpectedly reliable off-spin and batted well under pressure more than once. Reports differ slightly on the final equation: ESPNcricinfo had India needing two off three balls, while the ICC said three were needed from the last four deliveries.

Dew also played a part. ESPNcricinfo said it contributed to full tosses from New Zealand’s seamers at the end.

India vs. New Zealand T20 schedule: what’s next?

The series moves on quickly, per the ICC:

• 2nd T20I: Oct. 24, Christchurch
• 3rd T20I: Oct. 27, Wellington
• 4th T20I: Oct. 30, Auckland
• 5th T20I: Nov. 1, Hamilton

Dates are local New Zealand dates. Evening games in New Zealand land in the early-morning hours of the same date on the US East Coast.

FAQ

Who won the 1st T20I between India and New Zealand? India won by four wickets, reaching 230/6 in 19.4 overs to chase New Zealand’s 225/4.

Who was India’s top scorer? Sanju Samson, with 67 off 33 balls.

Who hit the winning runs? Naman Dhir, with a six off Matt Henry. He finished 42 not out off 15 balls.

Where was the match played? Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.