India Complete 4-1 T20I Series Win Over New Zealand with 7-Wicket Victory
India capped a dominant home summer with a comprehensive four-match T20I series win over New Zealand, sealing the rubber 4-1 with a commanding seven-wicket victory in the 5th and final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on February 14, 2026. Chasing 178 on a high-scoring, dew-soaked pitch, India romped home in 17.2 overs for 179 for 3, powered by Suryakumar Yadav’s match-winning 92 off 48 balls* (8 fours, 6 sixes) and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive 68 off 38 (6 fours, 5 sixes). Their 124-run stand in 64 balls turned a tricky chase into a procession. New Zealand had earlier posted 177 for 7, built on Finn Allen’s aggressive 68 off 38 and Rachin Ravindra’s 42 off 28, but Arshdeep Singh’s 3 for 28 and Varun Chakaravarthy’s 2 for 32 choked the middle overs. The win — India’s 15th straight T20I triumph at home — marks their first T20I series victory over New Zealand since 2021 and a perfect build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, under a packed 100,000+ crowd and floodlit spectacle, produced a high-octane run-fest with 356 runs scored in 37.2 overs. Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to bowl first was tactical brilliance, exploiting early swing before the surface eased under dew. For Mitchell Santner (stand-in captain), the defeat was agonizing — New Zealand’s bowling economy of 10.35 the worst conceded in a T20I in Ahmedabad. As Suryakumar smashed the winning six off Lockie Ferguson amid fireworks and chants of “SKY! SKY!”, the series narrative closed triumphantly: India’s batting depth and death bowling reign supreme, New Zealand left to rue missed opportunities.
India XI (Suryakumar Yadav captain) Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c & wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
New Zealand XI (Mitchell Santner captain) Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
New Zealand – 177-7 (20 overs) Allen fell for a duck in the first over — caught at mid-off off Arshdeep. Ravindra and Chapman added 78; Chapman holed out to long-on off Chakaravarthy for 38. Ravindra reached 42 off 28 (5×4, 2×6) before skying Bishnoi. Phillips (18) and Santner (32) scratched, but Arshdeep’s triple-wicket 18th over (including Phillips and Santner) capped the damage. Arshdeep 3-28, Chakaravarthy 2-32, Bishnoi 1-35 — the spinners kept it tight in the middle.
India – 179-3 (17.2 overs) Jaiswal (68 off 38, 6×4, 5×6) and Abhishek (28 off 12) added 68 in 5.4 overs. Jaiswal fell to Henry, caught at long-off. Suryakumar and Tilak added 45 before Tilak holed out to long-on off Santner for 18. Suryakumar and Rinku then took complete control — 78* in 38 balls. Suryakumar 92* off 48 (8×4, 6×6) — finished with a towering six over midwicket off Ferguson. Rinku 38* off 22 (3×4, 2×6) hit the winning runs.
Key Moments
- Jaiswal’s 68 — fastest T20I fifty by an Indian opener vs NZ
- 124-run Jaiswal-Suryakumar stand in 64 balls — highest 3rd-wicket vs NZ in T20Is
- Arshdeep’s triple-wicket over — first in T20Is vs NZ
- 48-run win margin — India’s largest by runs in Ahmedabad vs NZ
- 26 sixes in the match — joint-most in an India-NZ T20I
Player of the Match: Suryakumar Yadav (92* & 1 catch)
Suryakumar Yadav: “Jaiswal set the tone, Rinku finished it. Ahmedabad always special.”
Mitchell Santner: “We were 10-15 short. SKY is a different beast at home.”
Final Series Result: India 4–1 New Zealand
India now turn to the T20 World Cup preparations; New Zealand head home for domestic cricket.
The home summer ends on a high — India march on.
