IND vs NZ 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh shine as India beat New Zealand by 48 runs

By Correspondent On Jan 22, 2026

Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh starred as India outplayed New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20 International on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old opener, known for his big hitting, scored a rapid 84 off 35 balls. He was well supported by Rinku Singh, who finished unbeaten on 44 from 20 balls, helping India post a strong total of 238/7 at Jamtha.

How did New Zealand bat?

For New Zealand, Glenn Phillips (78 off 40 balls) and Mark Chapman (39 off 24 balls) tried to keep their team in the hunt, adding 79 runs in seven overs, but the target proved too steep. The visitors finished at 190/7. Varun Chakravarthy (2/37) picked up key wickets, while Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya also provided early breakthroughs.

How did the match go?

Abhishek Sharma’s destructive batting allowed captain Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) to settle in, forming a 99-run partnership for the third wicket. He hit eight towering sixes and five boundaries, putting immense pressure on the New Zealand bowlers. Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (8) could not contribute much, but Abhishek’s aggressive play made up for it.

Abhishek Sharma wasted no time against Jacob Duffy (2/27), connecting a lofted six in just his fifth ball. His quick bat speed and straight hitting made it hard for the opposition to contain him. Clarke and Jamieson’s deliveries, bowled at around 130 km/h, flew easily over the ropes.

Suryakumar showed glimpses of his class with a back-foot drive through covers and a six off Clarke, but he was not at his best. Mitchell Santner (1/37) tried to slow the scoring, even getting Suryakumar out at long-on, but Abhishek continued to dominate until Ish Sodhi slightly shortened his leg-break and Jamieson caught him.

Rinku Singh then took charge in the final overs, smashing Daryl Mitchell for 21 runs in the last over to help India reach an impressive total. This innings highlighted Abhishek Sharma’s ability to dominate in T20 cricket and provided India with a commanding start to the series.