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India vs New Zealand first T20I LIVE: Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul help India beat Kiwis by six wickets

Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to field field in the first T20I against New Zealand. It is an important series for both India and New Zealand keeping in mind  upcoming T20 World Cup later this year.

Published

6 years ago

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Shreyas Iyer.

A disciplined batting performance from Team India helped them win the first T20I against New Zealand by six wickets at Eden Park, Auckland.

New Zealand put up a good score of 203 runs on the board, but it wasn’t enough on a batting friendly wicket as KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer batted brilliantly to chase down the total in 19 overs.

India 1-0 New Zealand

Shreyas Iyer hits a six to finish off the game in style with an over to spare. India take the early lead in the five match T20I series and win the first match at Auckland by six wickets.

Shreyas Iyer reaches fifty as India nears win:

Shreyas Iyer is back to top form with a solid half-century. He hits a six off the first ball and then backs it up with a boundary off the next delivery to reach the mark in 26 balls.

Iyer keeps it going:

The required run rate is well under control as India need 29 runs from 18 deliveries. Shreyas Iyer hits a six off the short ball from Tim Southee. India – 175/4 after 17 overs.

Sodhi leaks runs in final over: 

Manish Pandey gets into the attack as he hits a marginally short delivery for a maximum. Shreyas Iyer gets a boundary with a cut shot as well. 14 runs from Sodhi’s final over. India – 165/4 after 16 overs.

Shivam Dube has to go:

All-rounder Shivam Dube holes out to Tim Southee at long-on off Ish Sodhi. India 142/4 in 13.2 overs.

STUNNER!

It’s Kohli’s wicket and Tickner has claimed it but the ‘stunner’ is all about Martin Guptill who dived forward to get the Indian skipper out for 45 runs.

WICKET!

KL Rahul skies a delivery from Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee takes a comfortable catch at long-on. He scored 56 runs off 27 deliveries. India reach 115/2 in 10 overs.

Fifty for KL:

KL Rahul smashes Blair Tickner for a six over long-on to reach his half-century off 23 balls.

Kohli, KL on song:

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul look in good touch as India are placed well at 65/1 in six overs.

Rohit Sharma departs:

Indian opener Rohit Sharma is dismissed by Mitchell Santner. He scored seven runs. India 16/1 in 1.4 overs.

New Zealand score 203/5 in 20 overs:

Bumrah gives away 12 runs in the last over as Ross Taylor’s unbeaten fifty propels the Kiwis to a competitive total.

Shami ends expensive spell

Mohammed Shami bowls a relatively decent over after going for 22 runs in his previous one. 9 runs from the penultimate over including a boundary.  New Zealand – 191/5 after 19 overs.

WICKET!

Tim Seifert batting way down the order than his usual position goes after Jasprit Bumrah on the second delivery he faces. Seifert gets deceived by Bumrah’s slower one and mistimes it to long on fielder Shreyas Iyer. Just fours runs and a wicket from the over. New Zealand – 182/5 after 18 overs.

Williamson departs fifty

Kane Williamson hits Yuzvendra Chahal for three boundaries in the over and gets to his 10th T20I half-century. Chahal bowls the last delivery away from Williamson and it goes straight up in the air. Williamson departs for 51 from 26 deliveries. New Zealand – 178/4 after 17 overs.

Taylor blows Shami away

Ross Taylor hits Mohammed Shami for a four and two huge sixes. The way Taylor is hitting sixes, he can clear any cricket ground. Brute power, strength on display from the veteran. 22 runs from the over. New Zealand – 165/3 after 16 overs.

Taylor manipulates Jadeja: 

First, Ross Taylor used Ravindra Jadeja’s pace to get a boundary, playing it away from the short third man fielder. Then, Taylor forced Jadeja to ball a little slower and his arc. The veteran gets into the position quickly and hits it over deep mid-wicket boundary and deep into the crowd. New Zealand – 143/3 after 15 overs.

Williamson goes big again:

It is hard to believe that Kane Williamson has hit four sixes in his innings already but not a single four. Williamson hits Shivam Dube for a flat six over deep square leg. 9 runs from Dube’s third over. Williamson’s batting at a strike rate of 200. New Zealand – 130/3 after 14 overs.

Jadeja strikes!

Ravindra Jadeja gets Colin de Grandehomme in his second delivery of the match. New Zealand: 117/3 in 12.2 overs.

The support at Eden Park:

Munro departs: 

Kane Williamson smashes Shardul Thakur for two consecutive sixes before Thakur gets Colin Munro caught at the square leg for 59 runs.

End of 10 overs:

New Zealand reach 91/1 with Kane Williamson and Colin Munro at the crease.

Munro reaches fifty:

Colin Munro reaches his half-century with a boundary that went off his edge. He took 36 balls to reach the mark.

Guptill departs:

Martin Guptill is caught by Rohit Sharma at the square-leg boundary off Shivam Dube. He scored 30 runs.

Spin attack:

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack in the seventh over and gives away just five runs. New Zealand: 73/0 after seven overs.

End of Powerplay: 

Guptill ends the powerplay with a straight six as the Kiwis reached 68/0 in six overs.

50 up for Kiwis:

New Zealand reach 50/0 in 4.3 over with Guptill on 15 and Munro on 31.

Big over for New Zealand:

Colin Munro hits two fours and a six as the Kiwis hit 18 runs in Shardul Thakur’s second over.

Shami introduced:

Mohammed Shami bowls a decent third over and gives away seven runs. New Zealand 26/0.

First six:

Munro lifts Shardul Thakur for the first six of the match over long-off. New Zealand 19/0 after two overs.

End of first over:

New Zealand 7/0 with Guptill and Munro at the crease.

First boundary:

Smashed through the mid-off boundary. Guptill got width outside off stump and he made full use of the opportunity to hit the first boundary of the innings.

Bumrah to start proceedings:

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has the new ball while Martin Guptill and Colin Munro open for the Kiwis.

Team India looks all set:

TOSS:

India have won the toss and have opted to field

Pitch report from Sunil Gavaskar: 

“It’s a boundary-hitting ground. No total is unchaseable. It looks a good pitch to bat on. There isn’t any grass on the surface. Seamers might not get much help from it. It’s a hard deck, so the ball should come on nicely to the bat and encourage strokeplay”

India vs New Zealand teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul(w), Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Tim Seifert(w), Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Hamish Bennett

Full schedule of India tour of New Zealand

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PM Modi praises Team India after historic T20 World Cup triumph

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Team India after its dominant win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final, praising the team’s exceptional skills, determination and teamwork.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

PM Narendra Modi

India’s victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 drew praise from political leaders across the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating the national team for what he described as a triumph built on “exceptional skills, determination, and teamwork”.

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final, securing the title and becoming the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times.

In a message posted online, the prime minister said the team showed remarkable resilience throughout the tournament and made the nation proud.

“Congratulations to the Indian team on winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup! This remarkable triumph reflects exceptional skills, determination, and teamwork. They have shown outstanding grit through the tournament. This victory has filled every Indian heart with pride and joy. Well done, Team India,” he wrote.

President Murmu congratulates team

President Droupadi Murmu also congratulated the players and the support staff, saying the achievement marked a historic moment for Indian cricket.

She said the win had brought immense pride and happiness to cricket lovers across the country and highlighted the depth of talent among India’s youth.

“Heartiest congratulations to Team India which scaled several peaks of history by winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup emphatically. India has the proud distinction of being the only country to win the cup three times. It is also the only team to win the cup twice in a row,” she said in her message.

The president also praised the entire squad, team management, and support staff for their collective effort.

Amit Shah hails team’s performance

Union Home Minister Amit Shah applauded the team for its consistent performance during the tournament and said the victory had brought glory to the country.

“What a victory…!! Hats-off to World Champion #TeamIndia. Your exceptional performance throughout the tournament and the vigorous display of mettle has brought glory and pride for the nation. Congratulations to the entire team for making every Indian proud,” he said.

India dominate the final

Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, India delivered a dominant performance in the final.

Batting first after losing the toss, India posted a massive total of 255 runs. Sanju Samson played a crucial innings of 89 runs, while Abhishek Sharma struck the fastest half-century of the tournament off just 18 balls. Ishan Kishan also contributed with a quick 54 off 25 balls, helping India reach the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.

India’s bowlers then sealed the victory with an impressive display. Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets for 15 runs, while Axar Patel picked up three wickets. Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma, and Hardik Pandya claimed one wicket each.

The match ended when Abhishek Sharma dismissed New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy on the final ball of the 19th over, confirming India’s emphatic victory.

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India’s T20 World Cup triumph validates Gautam Gambhir’s approach, coach dedicates win to Dravid and Laxman

Gautam Gambhir said he is accountable only to the team dressing room after India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs to win the 2026 T20 World Cup and dedicated the title to Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

Gautam Gambhir (1)

India’s victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup has become a moment of redemption for head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had faced heavy criticism after a series of Test defeats earlier in his tenure.

India defeated New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs in the final to clinch their third T20 World Cup title, becoming the first team to achieve the feat. The win also marked the first time a team successfully defended the trophy after lifting it in the previous edition.

Gambhir says accountability lies within the dressing room

Speaking after the final, Gambhir said he does not measure his work based on public opinion or social media reactions.

“My accountability is not for people on social media. My accountability is to those 30 people in that change room,” Gambhir said during the post-match press conference.

The former India opener added that a coach’s success ultimately depends on the players.

“A coach is as good as his team. Players made me the coach I am,” he said.

Trophy dedicated to Dravid and Laxman

Despite celebrating a major triumph, Gambhir chose to acknowledge the contributions of two former India greats — Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Dravid had guided India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024 before Gambhir took over the role, while Laxman currently heads the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.

“I would dedicate this trophy to Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. To Rahul bhai for putting the Indian team in a place and Laxman for creating the pipeline at the CoE,” Gambhir said.

He also expressed gratitude to chief selector Ajit Agarkar and ICC chairman Jay Shah, recalling their support during difficult phases.

“Ajit Agarkar took a lot of flak and worked with honesty. And Jay bhai called me during my lowest ebb after the losses to New Zealand and South Africa,” he noted.

India dominate final with bat and ball

India produced a commanding performance in the final. Batting first, the team posted a massive total of 255 for five.

Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 89, while Abhishek Sharma (52) and Ishan Kishan (54) struck quick half-centuries to put New Zealand under pressure.

Defending the total, India bowled out New Zealand for 159. Jasprit Bumrah starred with figures of 4 for 15, while Axar Patel claimed three wickets.

Suryakumar backs Gambhir’s philosophy

India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised Gambhir’s leadership and said the pair share a strong understanding built during their time at Kolkata Knight Riders.

“I played four years under GG’s captaincy. We have never had arguments because the goal has always been how the team can win,” Suryakumar said.

He also stressed that the team’s focus remains on collective success rather than individual milestones.

Looking ahead, the captain said India would now aim for gold when cricket makes its Olympic appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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India win record third T20 World Cup after thrashing New Zealand in 2026 final

India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad, becoming the first team to win the tournament three times and defend the title.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 9, 2026

By

india wins worldcup 2026

India scripted history by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, becoming the first team to win the tournament three times and also the first to successfully defend the title.

Batting first after being put in, India produced a powerful performance with the bat to post 255 for 5 in 20 overs, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final.

Sanju Samson led the charge with an impressive 89, while Abhishek Sharma played a stunning cameo, smashing the fastest half-century of the tournament off just 18 balls. Ishan Kishan added 54 from 25 balls and Shivam Dube provided late momentum with a quick 26 off only eight deliveries.

New Zealand fall short in steep chase

Chasing a daunting target of 256, New Zealand struggled to keep pace with the required run rate and were eventually bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah delivered a match-winning spell, taking four wickets while conceding just 15 runs in his four overs. Axar Patel also made a strong impact with three wickets.

With the emphatic victory, India secured their third T20 World Cup title after previous triumphs in 2007 and 2024.

Historic achievement for India

The victory marked several milestones for the Indian team. They became the first side to:

  • Win the T20 World Cup three times
  • Defend the T20 World Cup title
  • Win the tournament on home soil

The triumph also capped a successful era under captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, with India continuing their dominance in the shortest format of the game.

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