- India scored 230/6 in 19.4 overs to chase New Zealand’s 225/4.
- India pulled off the historic chase at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
- The latest victory tops India’s previous successful chases of 209 against Australia.
India scripted history in the first T20I against New Zealand, chasing down a target of 226 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, a venue where no team had previously successfully chased more than 177 runs in a men’s T20I. The Men in Blue got off to a flying start, but a sudden collapse saw them lose four wickets with the alarm bells ringing.
Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir, however, held their nerve under pressure and guided India towards a memorable four-wicket victory, completing their highest successful run chase in T20I cricket. India finished at 230/6 in 19.4 overs, chasing New Zealand’s 225/4 with two balls to spare and taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Record-breaking India open New Zealand tour with a win in the first T20I 👏 Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/TxKQzSkzLd
— ICC (@ICC) October 22, 2026
India’s Highest Successful Run Chases In T20Is
The Christchurch chase now tops India’s list of successful run chases in men’s T20Is. Their previous highest was a target of 209, which they chased down against Australia in Visakhapatnam in 2023 and against New Zealand in Raipur in 2026.
| Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 230/6 (Target: 226) | New Zealand | Christchurch | 2026 |
| 209/8 | Australia | Visakhapatnam | 2023 |
| 209/3 | New Zealand | Raipur | 2026 |
| 208/4 | West Indies | Hyderabad | 2019 |
| 211/4 (Target: 207) | Sri Lanka | Mohali | 2009 |
India Record One Of Their Highest T20I Powerplays
India’s aggressive start was another major factor in the record chase. The Men in Blue scored 94/1 in the powerplay against New Zealand in Christchurch, placing the innings among their highest powerplay totals in men’s T20Is.
| Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100/0 | Afghanistan | Delhi | 2026 |
| 95/1 | England | Mumbai (Wankhede) | 2025 |
| 94/2 | New Zealand | Guwahati | 2026 |
| 94/1 | New Zealand | Christchurch | 2026 |
| 92/0 | New Zealand | Ahmedabad | 2026 |
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India’s Batters Deliver Under Pressure
India’s chase was built around aggressive batting at the top and crucial contributions through the middle and lower order. Sanju Samson’s quickfire 67 off 33 balls gave the hosts an early challenge, while Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir helped maintain the scoring rate.
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New Zealand fought back with wickets, but India held their nerve to cross the finishing line. The victory was important and worth remembering given the venue’s previous record.
India not only surpassed their own highest successful T20I chase but also breached a mark that no visiting side had previously crossed at Hagley Oval.