Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube each took two wickets as India secured a 48-run victory over New Zealand in the T20I series opener at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. India’s strong batting performance, led by Abhishek Sharma’s 84 and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 44, propelled them to their highest T20I total against New Zealand at 238/7. New Zealand, chasing 239, faced early setbacks but Glenn Phillips’ aggressive 78 off 40 balls kept them in the game temporarily.
Mark Chapman’s 39 off 24 balls and Phillips’ partnership briefly raised hopes for New Zealand, but they eventually finished at 190/7 in 20 overs. India’s bowlers, including Chakaravarthy, Dube, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya, played crucial roles in restricting New Zealand’s chase. Despite some concerns over Axar Patel’s injury, India’s bowlers successfully defended their total, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the series.
India’s strong start was marred by Patel’s injury, but the team’s overall bowling performance, including key contributions from Chakaravarthy and Dube, ensured their victory. New Zealand’s chase saw early dismissals, with Phillips leading a spirited fightback before falling in the 14th over. Despite late efforts by Chapman and others, India’s disciplined bowling attack, highlighted by Dube’s crucial wickets, sealed the win for the home team.
