India vs New Zealand Live Score, 1st T20I of India tour of New Zealand, 2026

See you for round two - And that is that from a thrilling first night in Christchurch. The opener of a long tour lived up to the billing, with the two sides trading blows in an entertaining contest that went down to the final over. There is just a day’s break before the teams get right back at it here at the Hagley Oval, with the second T20I scheduled for Saturday, October 24. It is another sell-out, and the first ball will be bowled at 7 am GMT (12.30 pm IST). As always, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care, and goodbye.

The skipper of India - Shreyas Iyer says it feels fantastic, joking that they do not have to worry about jet lag anymore. But he is quick to admit that when they started bowling, the pitch was playing a bit slow and they bowled slightly ahead of the hard lengths they wanted to hit. He details that once the dew came in, the ball started coming onto the bat nicely, and chasing 220, getting 85 in the first six overs was a tremendous start. On the openers, Iyer says they are experienced enough and do not need to be told how to go about their business. He notes that it does not happen every time, but when they click, they set up the game, and the rest of the batting unit tries to steady the ship and finish it off. On Naman Dhir, Iyer showers a lot of praises for him. Says that he (Dhir) gives the team a lot of options, and feels the calm and composed nature he showed tonight was magnificent.

The captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner, when asked about the blow to the head while attempting a catch, says it was a bit of whiplash, but he is feeling okay now. Feels the top order went about its business well, with Glenn Phillips consolidating the innings and Bevon Jacobs also striking well. Mentions that they were reasonably happy with the total and acknowledges that they were not at their best with the ball. He feels it was a tight game, with both teams having moments that could have gone either way.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Sanju Samson has been given the accolade for his swashbuckling 67 off just 33 balls. Samson says it feels really good, adding that they are just in the moment of having won the match and that whatever contribution you make, it feels good when the team wins. He calls it a nice overall contribution from everyone. On his conversations with Abhishek while batting, Samson shares that they do have conversations, but it does not make much sense, as they just watch the ball and hit it hard. About the pitch and the conditions, he says there was a lot of swing, too much in the second half actually. He notes that off the surface, the ball was coming on nicely, so they were trying to hold their shape. Samson adds that he summed up his game plan while keeping, but when he came out to bat, it was totally different.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Recap of the first innings - After New Zealand were asked to bat first, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert started watchfully before teeing off, but neither could play the long hand. It was Glenn Phillips who did the heavy lifting, keeping the boundaries coming at regular intervals and making the most of the long square boundaries to pick up twos. Bevon Jacobs chipped in with a vital cameo, and with Phillips batting through, New Zealand posted 225, their highest T20I total against India on home soil. There wasn't much to write home about for India with the ball. They were well below their best, and the fielding also left much to be desired.

A chase with a wobble - Despite the quick turnaround from the West Indies series and all the travel, it was business as usual for Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as they set out to chase 226. The opening pair came out all guns blazing, and India’s Powerplay of 94/1 put them well ahead of the curve. Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner dragged New Zealand back into it as the visitors lost their way through the middle phase, which has been happening often lately. The resurrection came through the stand between Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer, with both batters surviving dropped catches. Iyer could not see the chase through himself, but Naman Dhir took the tourists home without any further hiccups. None of the Kiwi pacers, apart from Nathan Smith, could bring about any control, and one wonders why it took so long for him to be introduced.

India go 1-0 up - The Men in Blue have pulled off their highest successful chase in T20Is, and that is one way to kickstart a long tour. At the halfway mark, New Zealand would have felt they had enough runs on the board, but they couldn't back it up with the ball. Their fielding also fell short of the standards they pride themselves on, as India made the most of their opportunities to seal a memorable win.

SIX! That's it. The tourists have done it. India win by 4 wickets and take an early 1-0 lead in the series. Banged in short on the stumps, angling into the body. Naman Dhir stands tall and swings hard across the line, looking to pull, but gets a thick top edge. To his fortune, the ball loops all the way over the deep fine leg fence for six. Dhir is all smiles as he stays unbeaten on a 15-ball 42.

Nervy! Half a chance for a run out, but missed. Another full toss, on off, Nitish drills it down the ground towards mid off and sets off for a single. Santner dives like he is plunging into a swimming pool, scooping the ball up and flicking an underarm throw towards the bowler's end. But the shy misses its mark, forcing Reddy to dive desperately to make his ground safely. 2 runs needed off 3 balls.

Slightly short of a length, on top of middle, Dhir hangs back and jabs it with soft hands through square leg for a single. They think about the second but Milne is quick to sprint from short fine leg and dive to his left to prevent any other run.

FOUR! Up and over! That should be the game for India now. Henry completely misses the yorker and gifts a low full toss on the stumps. Dhir stands deep in the crease and despite the bottom hand coming off the handle, he clears mid off for a boundary. 4 needed off 5.

Down to the final over. We couldn't have asked for a better start to this long, all-format series between the two sides. Just like India, New Zealand have also been penalised for a slow over rate. They will be allowed only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle for the final over. Matt Henry has been handed the ball.

Spears it full on the off stump. Dhir opens his stance to go big, but cannot get underneath it and powers it down to long off for a single.

A wide yorker at 134 kph, outside the off stump. Dhir throws his bat at it and carves it wide of backward point. It slows down in the outfield and the sweeper cuts it off to his right. Two runs taken. 9 needed off 7. Big delivery coming up.

FOUR! A gift and Dhir accepts it gleefully. Adam misses the yorker, bowls a low full toss outside off, Dhir stays compact in the crease with a stable base and powers it between mid off and extra cover for a boundary. 11 needed off 8 balls now.

Angled into the bodyline on a good length. Nitish swooshes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pinpoint yorker by Milne, on the leg stump. Nitish jams the bat down in time and squeezes it back to the bowler. A crucial dot ball for the hosts.

The new batter is Nitish Kumar Reddy.

OUT! CAUGHT BY THE SKIPPER! That's a fine catch diving forward under pressure by Santner. Back of a length, outside the off stump. It appears to be holding on the surface a bit and arrives a fraction late to the batter. Shreyas looks to loft it over cover, but cloths it to extra cover off the toe end. And we have another twist in the game as Iyer departs. India are 210/6, needing 16 runs from 11 balls.

Adam Milne to bowl the 19th over, with India needing 16 runs from 12 balls.

FOUR! Off the outside edge but India will take it no matter how the runs come. Very full by Smith, outside off, Dhir attempts to smash that through covers, but gets a big outside edge. The ball goes flat and over the leaping short third fielder before speeding into the fence. Two massive overs for India, and they are in the driving seat now.

FOUR! Gets it away! Slower and shorter by Smith, at shoulder height. Naman waits, and waits and waits for it to arrive before he unleashes the pull shot. Gets a bit of a top edge but clears short fine leg for a boundary.

It's really slippery out there because of the dew around. Smith first slips in a full toss on the body and Iyer powers it down the ground to the left of long on. Santner runs in off the ropes, but slips a bit when he tries to pick the ball and fumbles. Now, the batters look to steal the second run, but Shreyas slips at the non-striker's end after completing the first.

Takes all the pace off and bashes it on a length, 117 kph, on middle, Naman Dhir has to really drag it with the pull shot to deep square leg's left for a single.

Back of a length, 139 kph, around off, Iyer covers the stumps by moving to the off side and punches it crisply down to long off for a single. 200 up for India! They need 26 runs from 16 balls.

Short of a length, following the batter. Shreyas shuffles to the leg side and pulls it to the right of the long on fielder. Finn Allen runs across and fields it. Two runs taken.

A wee bit short, outside the off stump. Iyer lets the ball dip and smashes it to widish long off for a single. 2/39 in 4 overs for Santner as he leaks 19 runs off his last over.

FOUR! Finds the gap expertly! A bit short and too wide outside off. Enough width for Iyer to work with and he hangs back before powerfully cutting it to the off side. Manages to bisect the cover-point and backward point fielders for a boundary. India need 30 runs from 19 balls now.

Slows it up, full and outside off, Dhir reaches out in front and lofts it over extra cover for a single.