India Demolish New Zealand by 8 Wickets in Record Chase to Seal Series Dominance

India produced a clinical demolition job, chasing down New Zealand’s 215/7 with 8 wickets and 54 balls to spare in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam, clinching the five-match series 4-0 with one game remaining. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive unbeaten 68 off 32 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s masterful 57* off 28 powered a blistering run-chase that shattered records for the fastest successful 200+ chase in T20Is. Jasprit Bumrah’s 3/17 had earlier restricted the Kiwis despite Glenn Phillips’ fighting 48. This win extended India’s unbeaten streak at home in T20Is and sent a strong message ahead of the T20 World Cup. A packed, electric crowd of over 40,000 under floodlights created an incredible atmosphere, roaring as fireworks lit up the sky with the victory sealed inside 11 overs.

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, under clear night conditions with minimal dew aiding the second innings, produced a high-scoring thriller with over 370 runs but turned into a one-sided batting showcase. The pitch — flat, true, and offering good carry — favored aggressive batting, making the chase deceptively easy once the openers got going. Mitchell Santner’s decision to bat first after winning the toss proved costly, as India’s bowlers struck early before the chase exploded. For Santner, the defeat was deflating, a failure to defend a competitive total against India’s firepower; for KL Rahul (rested, with Suryakumar leading), it was exhilarating, a perfect team display. As Abhishek smashed the winning six amid deafening cheers, the series narrative was emphatically sealed — India untouchable at home.

India XI Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi

New Zealand XI Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Jacob Duffy

New Zealand – 215/7 (20 overs) New Zealand posted a competitive 215 after early jolts, thanks to Phillips’ aggressive 48 off 28 and late cameos from Santner (27 off 17) and Chapman. Conway fell to Bumrah in the powerplay, followed by Seifert and Ravindra cheaply as Bumrah (3/17) and Arshdeep (2/38) struck with pace and variations. Phillips counter-attacked with sixes, sharing a 78-run stand with Mitchell (32), but Bishnoi (2/42) and Washington broke partnerships. Extras 12, momentum shifted in the death as Bumrah’s yorkers restricted them to 215 — respectable but under par on this belter. No collapse, but India’s bowlers ensured no big over cost them dearly.

India – 216/2 (11.0 overs) India’s chase was ruthless from ball one. Abhishek and Jaiswal blasted 78 in the powerplay before Jaiswal fell to Henry (1/28) for a quick 32. Abhishek remained aggressive, peppering boundaries and sixes in his 68* (32 balls, 7 fours, 4 sixes), while Suryakumar joined seamlessly with 57* (28 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes), sharing an unbroken 138-run stand. The pair targeted spinners and pacers alike, racing to 150 in 9 overs. No pressure moments; pure dominance with smart running and aerial shots. Ferguson and Southee leaked runs under assault, as India overhauled the target in record time — the fastest 200+ chase ever in T20Is — sealing the series with flair.

Key Moments

• Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 68* off 32, anchoring the record chase with fearless strokeplay.
• Jasprit Bumrah’s 3/17, dismantling New Zealand’s top order and setting up the dominance.
• Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 57 off 28, accelerating brilliantly in the unbroken partnership.
• Fastest successful chase of 200+ in T20I history (11 overs), rewriting record books.
• Series-clinching win at 4-0, India’s 10th consecutive T20I series victory at home.

Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma (68*) Winning Captain (Suryakumar Yadav): “What a night! Abhishek set the tone, and we just kept going. The bowlers gave us a great platform, and chasing here felt easy once we got in. Series win feels special; one more to go, but we’re focused on the World Cup prep.” Losing Captain (Mitchell Santner): “215 looked okay, but India were unstoppable tonight. Credit to their openers—they took the game away early. Tough learning, but we’ll fight in the last one. Bumrah was brilliant again.”

Series: India lead 4–0 Next → India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad — January 31, 2026 (7:00 PM IST)

India’s record-breaking performance not only wrapped up the series in style but also boosted confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026. With young guns firing and the bowling unit clicking, the hosts enter the final game aiming for a clean sweep, while New Zealand search for pride and momentum in a tough tour.