The dream of a competitive T20 series in 2026 took a massive hit in Guwahati last night, as Team India didn’t just beat New Zealand but they dominated them throughout the game. The 3rd T20I felt more like a video game than international cricket, the Men in Blue chased down 154 runs in exactly 10 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
At ForgeNative, we’ve seen some dominant Indian performances over the years, but the sheer clinical nature of this 8-wicket victory at the ACA Stadium, Barsapara, sets a new benchmark and will be remembered for a long time. Also, a dominance like this just few days before the T20I World Cup gives lot of confidence for the young team.
The Bowling Masterclass: Bumrah and Bishnoi Stifle the Kiwis
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first, his decision was soon vindicated by the Indian bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, returning to the side after being rested in Raipur, proved why he is the world’s most feared pacer. His opening spell was a masterclass in seam movement, removing Tim Seifert(12 off 11) with a peach of a delivery.
While New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips (48 off 40) and Mark Chapman (32 off 23) tried to build a platform with a 52-run stand, they were never allowed to break free. Ravi Bishnoi, playing his first international match in 11 months, looked like he never left. His figures of 2/18 in 4 overs completely choked the New Zealand middle order, eventually restricting the visitors to a sub-par 153/9.
Key bowling performances:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 17 | 3 | 4.25 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 4 | 18 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Hardik Pandya | 3 | 23 | 2 | 7.66 |
The Chase: Abhishek Sharma and “SKY” Go Nuclear
While the 1st innings belonged to the Indian bowlers, the 2nd Innings was a cinematic batting display by the Indian batters. Team India lost opener Sanju Samson for a golden duck but any hope New Zealand was short-lived.
Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan paired up with an aggressive intent of finishing off the match soon. Runs were being scored on either sides with Ishan Kishan scored a quick 28(13) which boosting the score. On the other end Abhishek Sharma played an innings for the history books. He reached his fifty in just 14 balls which is the second fastest by an Indian batsman, trailing only the legendary left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh(12 balls). His unbeaten 68 off 20 balls (including 7 fours and 5 sixes) left the New Zealand bowlers with no place to hide.
Player Profile : https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/abhishek-sharma-1070168
Not to be outdone, skipper Suryakumar Yadav continued his “purple patch” with a blistering 57 off 26 balls*. The pair’s 102-run partnership came off just 40 deliveries, bringing the game to a close at the stroke of the 10th over. This blistering innings helped India reach the target in just 60 deliveries leaving the visitors with no place to hide. Also, it added a question to all the cricket lovers that how much more runs could this aggressive batters chase down if played for 20 complete overs.
Man of the match : Jasprit Bumrah
Though it was a tough choice between Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah for the Man of the match award, it was awarded to Jasprit Bumrah for his clinical bowling performance of taking 3 wickets conceding just 17 runs in his bowling spell. This is the 14th Man of the match award received by Jasprit Bumrah in his international cricket career.
ForgeNative Insight: Is this India’s Final World Cup XI?
With the T20 World Cup 2026 starting in just a few weeks (February 7), this match answered several key questions:
- The Opening Puzzle: While Sanju Samson struggled again, the fire-power of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan seems to have locked in the top-order strategy. India will look for getting back Sanju Samson back in rhythm in the upcoming matches.
- The Spin Factor: Ravi Bishnoi’s successful return creates a “good” headache for the selectors. Can they fit both him and Kuldeep Yadav in the starting XI? After resting Varun Chakravarthy in the 3rd T20I against New Zealand, Ravi Bishnoi was included in the team which he made complete use of. Now the selectors have to re-think about the playing-XI.
- Pace Longevity: Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness and rhythm are clearly back at 100%, which is the biggest win for India this week. He returned to the squad and added more power to the bowling unit.
Final Thoughts: A Historic Night in Guwahati
India’s chase of 154 in just 10 overs isn’t just a win; it’s a record for the fastest successful chase of a 150+ total by a full-member nation. For New Zealand, the tour now moves to Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, where they will play for pride. While will likely use the remaining two games to test their bench strength before defending their T20I World Cup.
ForgeNative Question for Fans: Does Abhishek Sharma deserve the “Player of the Tournament” already or has SKY’s captaincy been the real game-changer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Official Match Report : https://www.olympics.com/en/news/india-vs-new-zealand-t20-cricket-2025-series-match-3-report
Match Highlights : https://www.bcci.tv/videos/highlights
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