The Indian team crushed New Zealand by 8 wickets in the Guwahati T20I encounter. Held on Sunday, January 25, the Indian team was set a target of 154 runs, which they achieved within just 10 overs. With this victory, India clinched an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.
India emerged victorious with 60 balls to spare, the most comprehensive chase by a Full Member (FM) team when pursuing a target of 150 or more. This broke the previous record held by the West Indies, who had defeated South Africa with 37 balls to spare in a Kingston T20 match in 2024.
Most balls remaining in a 150+ chase in T20I (FM Teams)
60 balls (India vs. New Zealand, Guwahati 2026)37 balls (West Indies vs. South Africa, Kingston 2024)33 balls (England vs. Pakistan, Lahore 2022)32 balls (South Australia vs. England, Johannesburg 2016)
This marks India's 11th consecutive T20I series win. With this streak, they stand at the top of the list for the most consecutive T20 series wins among Full Member teams. Notably, Pakistan also won 11 consecutive T20 series from 2016 to 2018.
Most consecutive T20I series wins (FM Teams):
11* (India from 2024 onwards)11 (Pakistan 2016-18)7 (India 2017-18)6 (India 2019-21)
Playing on home turf, India has now won 10 consecutive T20 series, a record for Full Member teams. Australia ranks second, having secured 8 successive home T20 series wins between 2006 and 2010.
Most consecutive T20I series wins at home (FM Teams)
10 (India 2022-26)*8 (Australia 2006-10)7 (India 2019-22)5 (Pakistan 2008-18)
Abhishek Sharma was exceptional with the bat for India, scoring an unbeaten 68 off 20 balls, hitting 7 fours and 5 sixes. He achieved his fifty in just 14 balls, making it the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 internationals. Yuvraj Singh tops this list with a 12-ball fifty against England in 2007.
Fastest T20I fifties against FM Teams
12 balls - Yuvraj Singh vs. England, Durban 200713 balls - Jan Frylinck vs. Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 202514 balls - Colin Munro vs. Sri Lanka, Auckland 201614 balls - Abhishek Sharma vs. New Zealand, Guwahati 2026*15 balls - Quinton de Kock vs. West Indies, Centurion 2023
During the Powerplay, India scored 94 runs for the loss of 2 wickets, marking their second-highest Powerplay score in T20 internationals. India’s highest remains a score of 95 for 1 against England at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Notably, this was the first time a team scored so many runs against New Zealand in a T20 Powerplay. India achieved 50 runs in just 3.1 overs, the fastest half-century in their T20I history.
Highest Powerplay scores for India:
95/1 vs. England (Wankhede Stadium, 2025)94/2 vs. New Zealand (Guwahati, 2026)82/2 vs. Scotland (Dubai, 2021)82/1 vs. Bangladesh (Hyderabad, 2024)78/2 vs. South Africa (Johannesburg, 2018)
Fastest half-centuries by India in T20 Internationals
3.1 overs vs. New Zealand, Guwahati 2026*3.4 overs vs. Bangladesh, Hangzhou, 20233.5 overs vs. Scotland, Dubai, 20213.5 overs vs. Australia, Nagpur, 20223.5 overs vs. Nepal, Hangzhou, 20233.5 overs vs. Australia, Trivandrum, 20233.5 overs vs. Zimbabwe, Harare, 20243.5 overs vs. England, Wankhede, 2025
Abhishek Sharma has now scored a fifty in 25 or fewer balls nine times in T20 internationals, matching the record of captain Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar has similarly achieved this feat nine times in T20 internationals.
Most fifties in 25 or fewer balls in T20I
9 Abhishek Sharma9 Suryakumar Yadav7 Phil Salt7 Evin Lewis
