Final result
India Cricket won by 48 runs
Player of the match: Abhishek Sharma
Result · T20 Internationals
India Cricket vs New Zealand Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 213Chase success · 51%POTM · Abhishek Sharma
Match preview & overview
India post 238/7 and beat New Zealand by 48 runs in Nagpur T20I
India beat New Zealand by 48 runs in the T20I at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur on 21 January 2026. Batting first after New Zealand won the toss and chose to field, India posted 238/7 across their 20 overs. In reply, New Zealand were restricted to 190/7, falling well short of their 239-run target. Abhishek Sharma collected the Player of the Match award. The result moves India back to winning ways after two successive defeats to New Zealand earlier in the 2026 cycle.
India's innings was built steadily across all three phases. They scored 68 runs for 2 wickets in the powerplay, before a productive middle stretch of 114 runs for 3 wickets. The death overs added a further 56 runs for 2. That total of 238/7 came in 25 runs above the venue's first-innings average of 213 across 40 matches, and it proved more than sufficient on the night.
New Zealand's chase struggled from the powerplay onwards. They managed 50 for 2 in the first six overs, which left them 18 runs behind India's powerplay pace and chasing a run-rate that climbed steadily out of reach. Their middle overs yielded 94 runs for 3, and a death phase of 46 runs for 2 could not bridge the gap. The 50-run win New Zealand had recorded against India in Vizag earlier this year showed they are capable of chasing here; on this occasion, the target was simply too steep.
Pitch report & venue insights
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur — 40-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2007–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
40
T20 matches hosted
213
Avg 1st-innings score
209
Avg 2nd-innings score
51%
Chase success rate
40
Avg powerplay runs
43%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
India's 238/7 dwarfs the venue average
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium averages 213 in the first innings across 40 matches. India's 238/7 was 25 runs above that benchmark, built on a productive middle phase of 114 runs for 3 wickets.
Angle 02
New Zealand's chase fell short by 48 runs
Angle 03
Abhishek Sharma named Player of the Match
Angle 04
India's powerplay vs New Zealand's: a telling gap
Angle 05
Series context: New Zealand had won two on the bounce
Key players
Players who decided it
India Cricket
Abhishek Sharma
India Cricket
R Ashwin
India Cricket
V Kohli
India Cricket
I Sharma
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may be worth assessing given the venue's above-average scoring: India's first innings came in 25 runs over the ground average, suggesting individual big scores are achievable.
- The toss has historically led teams to bowl first at this venue only 38 per cent of the time. New Zealand elected to field and conceded 238, which aligns with the ground's general preference for batting first.
- The gap between India's powerplay score (68) and New Zealand's (50) suggests powerplay-specific markets could be an area of interest for matches at this venue.
- With the chase success rate sitting at exactly 50 per cent across 40 matches here, outright result markets may offer closer lines than the eventual margin of 48 runs implies.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about India Cricket vs New Zealand Cricket
What was the result of the India vs New Zealand T20I in Nagpur on 21 January 2026?
India beat New Zealand by 48 runs. India batted first and posted 238/7, and New Zealand were bowled out for 190/7 in reply. Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Match.
Who won the toss in the India vs New Zealand T20I at Nagpur?
New Zealand won the toss and chose to field. India capitalised, scoring 238/7 including 68 runs in the powerplay. New Zealand's decision to chase did not pay off.
What is the head-to-head record between India and New Zealand in T20Is?
Across all formats, India and New Zealand have met 111 times, with India leading 55–41 (11 no results). In the five most recent encounters in 2026, India have won four and New Zealand one.
Where can I watch India vs New Zealand T20Is in the UK?
T20I matches between India and New Zealand are typically broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Live streaming is available via Sky Go and NOW TV for subscribers. Check your local listings for exact broadcast times.
What is the average first-innings score at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur?
Across 40 matches at the venue, the average first-innings score is 213. India's total of 238/7 in this match was 25 runs above that average. The ground's chase success rate sits at 50 per cent.
Who was Player of the Match in the India vs New Zealand T20I at Nagpur?
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Match. India scored 238/7 batting first, with Abhishek Sharma's contribution a key factor in their 48-run victory.
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Photo credits (3)
- Ravichandran Ashwin — photo by Dee03, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Virat Kohli — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source
- Ishant Sharma — photo by Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source