India defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets in the 3rd Twenty20 International on January 25, 2026 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati to seal the five-match series 3-0. In a crushing performance, India chased down a target of 154 runs in just 10 overs, showing overwhelming batting strength and form.
Abhishek Sharma was the star of the match, smashing a stunning 68 not out off 20 balls, including a blistering 14-ball fifty — one of the second-fastest T20 fifty by an Indian.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav also played a key role with a fluent 57 not out, forming a match-winning partnership of 102 runs off 40 balls with Sharma as India powered to victory with 10 overs to spare.
Series Summary
Before the third game, India had already taken a 2-0 lead in the series:
- In the 2nd T20I at Raipur, India chased down 209, powered by Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 82 and Ishan Kishan’s 76, winning by 7 wickets with 28 balls remaining.
- The 1st T20I in Nagpur also went India’s way, with a strong total of 238/7 and a 48-run victory over New Zealand.
Key Highlights
- India’s batting attack has been in explosive form, including record-pace hitting and high partnerships throughout the series.
- The team’s performance boosts confidence ahead of upcoming global T20 competitions, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.
📌 Next fixtures: India and New Zealand still have two more T20Is scheduled in this tour, but India has already made the series their own with a clean sweep.
