GUWAHATI — A dominant all-round display, highlighted by a blistering half-century from Abhishek Sharma and incisive bowling led by Jasprit Bumrah, powered India to an emphatic eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I on Sunday, clinching the series 3–0.
After opting to field at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, India’s bowlers set the tone early. Bumrah returned outstanding figures of 3 for 17, while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi chipped in with 2 for 18, restricting New Zealand to 153 for 9 in their 20 overs.
New Zealand stifled early
India struck repeatedly in the powerplay, with pacers removing key batters to leave New Zealand reeling at 34 for 3. Bumrah dismissed wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, while Harshit Rana continued his run against Devon Conway, dismissing him again in white-ball cricket.
A fourth-wicket stand of 54 between Glenn Phillips (48) and Mark Chapman (32) briefly steadied the innings before Bishnoi broke through. Despite a late flourish from captain Mitchell Santner (27 off 17), New Zealand fell short of a competitive total.
Abhishek turns chase into a formality
India’s reply began with a setback as Sanju Samson was bowled first ball, but the chase quickly tilted in the hosts’ favour.
Abhishek Sharma produced a breathtaking assault, racing to a 14-ball fifty—India’s second-fastest in T20Is—and finishing unbeaten on 68 from 20 balls. He narrowly missed matching mentor Yuvraj Singh’s 12-ball national record set in 2007.
Abhishek and Ishan Kishan added 53 runs in just 19 balls before Kishan fell for 28. From there, Abhishek combined with captain Suryakumar Yadav, who struck an unbeaten 57, to put on a commanding 102-run stand, guiding India to 155 for 2 in just 10 overs.
Series momentum and World Cup build-up
The victory gave India an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series — their ninth consecutive T20 series win — underlining their status as the world’s top-ranked T20 side and reigning world champions.
“This is the brand of cricket we want to play,” Suryakumar said. “No matter the situation, we know how to respond.”
New Zealand skipper Santner credited India’s bowling for the defeat. “They made it really tough for us, especially with wickets in the powerplay,” he said.
The fourth T20I will be played on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, with the series serving as key preparation for the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah