India chased down 226 vs New Zealand at Hagley Oval, winning by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare — the highest successful T20I chase in the team history.
Updated: October 23, 2026, 10:30 IST
Quick Read
- New Zealand posted 225/4 (Glenn Phillips 82* off 40, Finn Allen 45 off 24). India replied with 230/6 in 19.4 overs — winning by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare.
- 226 is India’s highest successful chase in T20 internationals, beating 211 vs Sri Lanka in 2009. It is also the highest score by an Indian at No. 7 or lower in a successful chase — Naman Dhir’s 42* off 15.
- Sanju Samson (67 off 33) was Player of the Match; India won the toss and chose to bowl. The 2nd T20I is Saturday, October 24, same venue, 12:30 pm IST.
India pulled off the greatest run-chase in its T20 history on October 22. Facing a giant target of 226 against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, India finished the job with two balls to spare — winning by 4 wickets and taking a 1–0 lead in the five-match series.
Quick explainer for new fans: in cricket, a “chase” means the team batting second must score more runs than the other team scored, within a fixed number of balls. In a T20I (Twenty20 International), each team gets 120 balls — 20 overs. Chasing 226 means scoring at nearly 11.3 runs an over from ball one. Almost nobody does that.
The night in short
India won the toss and chose to bowl first — a brave call, because Christchurch’s short boundaries usually help the team batting first. New Zealand made it count: Glenn Phillips smashed 82 not out off 40 balls, Finn Allen hit 45 off 24, and the hosts piled up 225/4. That is a total most teams defend easily.
India’s reply was fearless. Sanju Samson led the way with 67 off 33 balls, Shreyas Iyer added 42 off 28, and the chase stayed alive deep into the final overs. But the finish belonged to a new name: Naman Dhir.
Dhir’s 15-ball masterclass
With the game on the line, Naman Dhir walked in and played the innings of the night — 42 not out off just 15 balls, with 5 fours and 2 sixes. He ended the match the only way that fits: a six off Matt Henry’s bowling. That 42 not out is the highest score by an Indian batting at No. 7 or lower in a successful T20I chase. India finished at 230/6 in 19.4 overs — 4 wickets in hand, 2 balls left.
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The records that fell
The big one: 226 is now India’s highest successful run-chase in T20 internationals. The old record — 211 against Sri Lanka, set way back in 2009 — stood for 17 years. Chasing 220-plus in a T20I is one of the rarest feats in the format; only a handful of teams in history have ever done it.
The night was a festival of six-hitting. 455 runs were scored in the match. And one more record slipped in quietly: India hit its 350th T20I six of the calendar year — the most any team has ever hit in a single year.
What it means for the series
A 1–0 lead in a five-match series is a strong start, but the message is bigger: India’s middle order chased 226 without blinking, and a young finisher in Naman Dhir announced himself on the big stage. New Zealand will need a plan for him — and for Samson’s form — before Saturday.
The 2nd T20I is on Saturday, October 24, at the same venue — Hagley Oval, Christchurch — starting 12:30 pm IST.
FAQ
- What was the final score in India vs New Zealand 1st T20I?
New Zealand 225/4 (Glenn Phillips 82* off 40, Finn Allen 45 off 24). India 230/6 in 19.4 overs. India won by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare, taking a 1–0 lead in the five-match series. - Is 226 India’s highest successful T20I chase?
Yes. It beats India’s previous record of 211 against Sri Lanka, set in 2009. It is also the highest score by an Indian batting at No. 7 or lower in a successful chase — Naman Dhir’s 42* off 15 balls. - Who was Player of the Match?
Sanju Samson, for his 67 off 33 balls that kept the chase on track. India won the toss and chose to bowl first. The 2nd T20I is Saturday, October 24, at Hagley Oval, 12:30 pm IST.
