CHRISTCHURCH/WELLINGTON — India defeated New Zealand 3-2 in a five-match T20I series, winning the first three matches before losing the final two.
Shreyas Iyer captained India to the series victory, with the top order delivering explosive chasing displays in the opening matches. In the first match in Christchurch, India chased down 226 runs in 19.4 overs, winning by four wickets. The team followed up with a four-wicket win while chasing 181 in 19.5 overs.
The third match in Wellington produced the most dominant performance, as India chased 199 runs in just 13.2 overs. Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 113 runs off 38 balls, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 45 off 19 deliveries and helped set up a 133-run opening partnership in 7.1 overs. India's middle order also contributed valuable runs lower down the order, with Naman Dhir scoring 138 runs across five innings at a strike rate of 200 and emerging as a reliable finisher.
New Zealand fought back to win the fourth match in Auckland by 87 runs, with Glenn Phillips scoring 107. The fifth match in Hamilton went to New Zealand by seven wickets, with Tim Seifert scoring 93.
Despite the series win, India's bowling attack was a concern. The visitors conceded 1,057 runs at a rate of 10.79 per over while taking only 22 wickets across the five matches. Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler with six wickets at an economy of 9.45. Mayank Yadav claimed four wickets but conceded 11 runs per over, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, returning from a nearly four-year absence, managed only a single wicket with an economy over 11.
India's fielding was unreliable throughout the series. With the series levelled at 2-2 after the fourth match, the result was decided by the opening three matches, in which India's batting depth and chasing ability proved decisive. The series highlighted a selection dilemma for India going forward, with inconsistent top-order performances despite individual brilliance from players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
