India have come out all guns blazing after posting a massive score of 255/5 in 20 overs in their first innings. It was important India start well with the ball and while the initial overs New Zealand were off the blocks, India kept chipping away to push New Zealand back in powerplay. New Zealand have an uphill task in front of them.
Axar Patel’s double strike pegs New Zealand in powerplay.Â
Chasing 256 for the win, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen came out to bat for New Zealand while Arshdeep Singh had ball in hand for India. Allen was dropped on 0 by Dube as he never looked like catching it as Arshdeep was the unlucky bowler here. Hardik Pandya came into the attack from the other end. Seifert took on Pandya and pulled it away over midwicket for the maximum. Seifert went back to back as he ramped it over fine leg for the maximum. Seifert then thrashed it away past mid-off for a boundary. Seifert went straight down the ground for a boundary.
Axar Patel came into the attack next. Allen went deep and pumped it over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Axar then drew first blood for India as he dismissed Allen for 9 off 7 balls with one four to his name. Shorter delivery angling in on the stumps, Allen rocked back and looked to pull it over long-on but got it off the toe end of the bat. He failed to get required elevation and distance as Tilak Varma took the catch at long-on. Rachin Ravindra came out to bat next and got off the mark.
Jasprit Bumrah came into the attack next and struck straightaway removing Ravindra for 1 off 2 balls. Bumrah from over the wicket bowled an off-cutter that pitched on leg stump, Ravindra didn’t pick the variation and was early into the whip and ended up getting a top edge behind square in the leg side. Ishan from deep backward square leg ran in to dive and took a fantastic catch. Glenn Phillips came out to bat next. He got off the mark.
Axar Patel continued as Seifert sat back and pulled it over cow corner for the maximum. Phillips then stayed back and pulled it away to mid-on where the ball went away to the fence. Axar hit back by castling Phillips for 5 off 5 balls with one four to his name. The flighted delivery that kept coming in with the angle. Phillips backed away a fraction and looked to drive through extra covers region but got beaten on the inside edge by the drift as the ball hit the leg stump. Mark Chapman came out to bat next.
Bumrah continued to bowl the last over of powerplay. The 50 came up for New Zealand in 5.5 overs. At the end of the powerplay, New Zealand were struggling at 52/3 with Chapman unbeaten on 1 off 3 balls and Seifert unbeaten on 35 off 19 balls. Players took the Drinks Break now.
India chip away at the wickets to push New Zealand back in the match.Â
Varun Chakaravarthy came into the attack post the powerplay. Seifert went big over wide long-on for the maximum. Seifert again went big straight down the ground over long-on for the maximum. Seifert brought up his fifty in 23 balls. Hardik Pandya came back into the attack and dismissed Chapman for 3 off 8 balls. Pandya bowled a length ball around the sixth stump line as Chapman looked to play the expansive drive and got a thick inside edge and the ball crashed onto the stumps. Daryl Mitchell came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Varun then removed Seifert for 52 off 26 balls with 2 fours and 5 sixes to his name. Varun bowled from over the wicket a short ball outside the off-stump and was there to be hit. He didn’t get enough on it as Ishan at deep midwicket moved to his right and took the catch with both hands. Captain Mitchell Santner came out to bat next. Varun gifted 4 byes to the batting side. Santner rocked back and punched it past backward point for a boundary. Santner got a triple as well to end the over.
Hardik came to bowl the 10th over and kept it tight as New Zealand were struggling at 88/5 in 10 overs with Mitchell unbeaten on 2 off 2 balls and Santner unbeaten on 11 off 10 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
India are all over New Zealand taking 5 wickets inside 10 overs for 88 runs. New Zealand now have a mountain to climb while India have almost sealed the deal in Ahmedabad. Let’s see how close New Zealand gets to the target from here.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: India Gets Off To A Flying Start After Being Asked To Bat First.