India Chases Series Sweep As New Zealand Fights Back In Guwahati T20 Thriller

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati was buzzing with anticipation on Sunday, January 25, 2026, as India and New Zealand faced off in the third T20 International of their five-match series. With India holding a commanding 2-0 lead, all eyes were on whether the Men in Blue could seal the series or if the Black Caps would stage a comeback. The match, broadcast live on the Star Sports network and streamed on JioHotstar, promised drama from the very first ball.

Suryakumar Yadav, riding high on a recent return to form, won the toss and opted to bowl first—a decision influenced by the expected dew and the stadium’s reputation for high-scoring chases. As the temperature dipped to a brisk 13 degrees Celsius, the pitch was set to become even more batter-friendly as the evening wore on, according to on-air assessments by Deep Dasgupta and Simon Doull. The square boundaries, measuring 64 and 66 meters, and a straight boundary at 74 meters, seemed tailor-made for big hitters to flex their muscles.

India made two significant changes to their playing eleven, bringing in Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi in place of Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy. New Zealand, meanwhile, handed Kyle Jamieson a spot in the lineup, replacing Zakary Foulkes, hoping his bounce and experience could trouble the Indian batsmen under the Guwahati lights. The squads read like a who’s who of T20 talent: India’s lineup featured Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. New Zealand fielded Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy.

The contest began with India’s bowlers setting the tone. Harshit Rana struck early, removing Devon Conway in the opening over, caught by Hardik Pandya. New Zealand’s top order crumbled quickly—Rachin Ravindra, after hitting a boundary off Pandya, fell in the very next over to a sharp catch by Ravi Bishnoi. Jasprit Bumrah, relentless as ever, cleaned up Tim Seifert with his very first delivery, reducing New Zealand to three wickets down inside the powerplay, which yielded a meager 36 runs. It was a disciplined, almost ruthless display from the Indian seamers and spinners alike.

Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman then attempted to steady the ship for the Kiwis, piecing together a 50-run partnership that briefly lifted the scoring rate. Chapman showed intent, smashing Kuldeep Yadav for a four and a six in the ninth over, while Phillips added a maximum of his own. But Ravi Bishnoi, returning to the side with a point to prove, broke the stand at a crucial stage. He first dismissed Chapman, caught behind by Sanju Samson, and then sent Phillips packing for a well-constructed 48 off 40 balls—top-scoring for his side. Bishnoi’s final figures read an impressive 2 for 18 in his four-over spell.

Daryl Mitchell tried to inject momentum but was caught by Ishan Kishan off Hardik Pandya for 14. Pandya, who finished with 2 wickets for 23 runs, continued to apply pressure. Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s captain, provided some late fireworks with a brisk 27 off 17 balls, including three boundaries and a six. Yet, the visitors could never fully recover from their early collapse. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy managed only a handful of runs, with the innings closing at 153 for 9 in 20 overs. Jasprit Bumrah, the pick of the Indian bowlers, ended with stellar figures of 3 for 17, once again demonstrating why he is among the world’s elite T20 bowlers.

As India prepared to chase 154 for victory and a 3-0 series lead, the focus shifted to their batting lineup. The opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma walked out to the middle amid high expectations. However, the start was anything but ideal for Samson. Facing Matt Henry’s very first delivery, Samson attempted a flick, only to see the ball brush his back leg and crash into the stumps—a golden duck. The pressure was now on Ishan Kishan, who had been in scintillating form throughout the series, and Abhishek Sharma to stabilize the innings.

Kishan wasted no time, launching into Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy with a flurry of boundaries. He smashed two sixes and a four off consecutive deliveries, racing to 18 off 13 balls. But just as he looked set for another explosive innings, he attempted to clear mid-wicket off Ish Sodhi and was caught by Mark Chapman. The Indian score read 60 for 2 after just four overs—clearly, the chase was on, but New Zealand had struck back with two quick wickets.

With the Barsapara surface expected to ease further and dew making its presence felt, India’s middle order—led by Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya—carried the responsibility of steering the chase. The team’s strategy, as articulated by skipper Suryakumar Yadav before the match, was clear: "Play fearlessly, back individual instincts and enjoy the contest while staying grounded." This approach had served India well in the previous match, where they chased down a daunting 209-run target thanks to Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar’s fireworks.

New Zealand’s bowlers, for their part, were determined not to let the series slip away without a fight. Captain Mitchell Santner, reflecting on the previous defeats, said his team had "taken lessons from the last match and were keen to apply them quickly." The inclusion of Kyle Jamieson was a tactical move to add variety and bounce, but the Indian batsmen were well-versed in such challenges, especially on home turf.

In the broader context, this series has highlighted the depth and resilience of the Indian squad. The return to form of Suryakumar Yadav, lauded by former South African great AB de Villiers as "pivotal in the T20 World Cup," and the emergence of Ishan Kishan as a dynamic opener have given India plenty to cheer about. The only lingering question mark remains over Sanju Samson’s form, as he continues to search for a big score to cement his place in the side.

As the chase for 154 unfolded under the Guwahati lights, Indian fans at the stadium and millions watching worldwide were treated to another classic contest between two cricketing heavyweights. With the action still ongoing, the outcome remains up in the air, but one thing is certain: the Barsapara Stadium once again delivered high-octane T20 drama, keeping the series alive and the fans on the edge of their seats.