IND vs NZ 1st T20I Live Commentary - Nagpur (21 January 2026)

A round-arm delivery, on the pads, Santner clips it to deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Oh, falls just short. Flighted ball, drifted into leg stump. Daryl Mitchell clears the front leg and heaves it off the inner half of the blade and gets it over mid-wicket. Abhishek Sharma races in from the deep and puts in the dive but the ball lands short. Sharma does well to get his body behind it and they get two runs.

FOUR! Oh, that's bursts through the fingers of Axar Patel. Hopefully, he hasn't split his webbing here. Slower and on a dragged length around off. Mitchell swats it flat and hard to the left of the bowler. Axar bravel sticks out his left hand but the ball deflects away to the fence behind.

2 runs.

In and around the off pole, on a nagging length, Mitchell taps it to extra cover.

Tosses it up, on middle, Mitchell advances down the track and has a big heave across the line. Shanks it off the inner half to deep square leg for a run.

SIX! Excellent use of the feet! This keeps straight, on a length, on off, Chapman puts the dancing shoes on and smokes it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Varun switches to over the wicket and this cuts across the left-hander, Mark punches it firmly to extra cover.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Mark Chapman holes out. That will make New Zealand's job all the more difficult with both set batters now back in the hut. This is slowed down, on the shorter side, on middle. Chapman shimmies down the track and swings through the line. He is not to the pitch of the ball and gets only the height and not the distance. Abhishek Sharma runs in off the ropes and settles under the skier. Wicket number 2 for Chakaravarthy.

Flat and short, on off, Santner dabs it wide of point for a single.

FOUR! Up and over! Fractionally short, on off, Phillips presses deep in the crease and waits on it before slamming it over extra cover for a four.

SIX Same region, better result! Tossed up, outside off, Phillips stays leg side and opens up the front hip. He goes inside out over extra cover for a six.

OUT! CAUGHT! A cry of anguish from Phillips as soon as he hit it. He knew it straight away. Axar spears it in, flat and on a nagging length, on middle. Glenn rocks on the back foot to unleash the pull but he is hurried on the shot. Ends up hitting it a lot straighter towards long on. Shivam Dube could have taken a couple of steps forward and made the catch easier for himself, but he opted to stay back. He got low to complete the catch. Phillips departs for a well-made 78 off 40 balls. New Zealand needed him to go longer.

Full and coming in with the arm, on middle, Mitchell gets low and plays the lap down to deep fine leg for a single.

Sliding across the left-hander, on off, Chapman gets on top of it and punches it to cover.

FOUR! Picks the gap superbly, does Chapman! Axar stays around the wicket for the left-hander and serves it full, on off, Chapman gets low and swipes it right between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four.

SIX! Clean as a whistle! Floated up, right in the hitting arc, around the off stump. Phillips clears the front leg and tonks it over long on for a 107-metre six.

Varun switches to around the wicket and pushes it across the batter, on a length. Phillips cuts it late and wide of deep point for a couple of runs.

Keeps the stumps in play, fuller than the previous ball. It is there to be hit but Phillips swings a bit too hard and loses his shape. Drags it off the inner half to deep mid-wicket. They cross.

Flat and short, on middle, Mark backs away to force it through the off side. This dribbles in the deep and the call is for two straight away but Ishan Kishan keeps the batters down to one.

This is fizzed across the right-hander, Phillips lets it be but the ball sneaks inside the tramline.

Good comeback from Varun after conceding a six on the first ball. The over ends up going for 11. Full and wide on off, Phillips digs it out through point for just a single.

Hurls it on a back of a length, on middle. Phillips whips it through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

Angled away, on a short of a length, Mark spanks it to wide long on for a single.

SIX! WOW! That has gone back many a mile. It has to be the longest hit of the night. Yes, it is. A 105-metre hit, and Glenn enjoyed it. On a short of a length, this sits up to be hit, on middle. Phillips stays on the back foot and clubs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

On a back of a length, outside off, Phillips slaps it to deep point for one more.

SIX! All the way! 15 off the over with a ball to go. Dube slams the surface but fails to get it high enough, on middle. Mark waits on it before pulling it flat and wide of deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

Off the edge! It does not matter much as the ball did not carry to Sanju Samson. Dube gets the slower, short ball high enough this time, on off. Chapman shimmies down the track but then has to adjust to the length. Gets his hands high to fetch the pull but misses.

DROPPED! Rinku Singh has shelled it. Off-cutter from Bumrah, on a length, on leg. Chapman has a swipe across the line but the ball spins away to catch the top edge. It goes straight up towards deep square leg, where Rinku moves forward off the ropes but does not hold on. The ball hits his palm and pops out. Bumrah smiles it off. They cross.

Skidding through, on a hard length, on middle, Phillips hammers it to deep square leg for a single.

On a back of a length, on off, Mark swats it in front of square for a run.

FIFTY FOR PHILLIPS! A ton in the ODI series decider and a half-century to start the T20I leg of the tour. It has been a lone fight tonight. Bumrah bowls the slower bumper, on off, Phillips hops and dabs it down to deep third for a single. Brings up his 11th T20 half-century.

Nails the yorker, on middle and leg, Chapman jams it out to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Bumrah bowls it short, on middle, Mark is able to swivel quickly and unleashes the pull to beat the diving deep square leg fielder for a four.

That should have been out! Hard length on middle, Phillips tucks it away through mid-wicket for one but he wants two. Phillips takes on the arm of Rinku Singh who reaches the ball in a flash and throws it perfectly to the keeper. However, Sanju Samson completely fumbles the ball and Phillips is able to get home. Poor decision to go for the second run but Phillips survives.

Back of a length and outside off, cut away square past point for a single.

Shorter one on the hips, nudged away down to long leg for just another single.

Slower one, pitched up on off. Phillips backs away and punches it straight back down the ground. Pandya cuts it off to his right running from long off and keeps it down to two runs.

A slower bumper, banged in well short and outside off. Phillips leaps up and tries to pull it down but misses. No wide called either.

FOUR! That's been nailed. Short ball over middle, at a gentle pace as well. Phillips has all the time in the world to rock back and pulls it firmly behind square leg for a boundary. New Zealand are 87/3 at the end of 10 overs, exactly 30 runs behind India at the same stage.

Dropped short and outside off, swatted away without much timing through mid off for a single.

SIX! Swung away for a biggie. Slightly fuller and around middle, Glenn Phillips gets under the ball and swipes it handsomely over cow corner for a 93-meter maximum.

Dragged length outside off, eased away through covers for a single by Phillips.

Good length, darted into middle and leg. Chapman gets on the front foot and taps it across to short mid-wicket.

FOUR! Streaky but will do nicely for New Zealand. Chapman backs away early and Varun Chakaravarthy tries to bowl it really wide outside off. Chapman throws his hands at it and gets a thick outside edge that goes fine of short third and rolls away into the fence.

Slightly tossed up, fuller and around off. Chapman hits it through extra cover and gets it wide enough of long off to pick up a couple of runs.

Flighted ball on middle and leg, Phillips takes the front leg out and heaves it off the inner half of the blade to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Quick and flat around off, Chapman backs away and slaps it straight to covers.

WIDE. Shortish length, turning down the leg side. Mark Chapman looks to pull it fine but misses. The keeper seems very excited about a caught behind but the umpire signals a wide. The interesting thing here is that the bowler doesn't appeal at all. But Sanju is adamant and India take the review. The third umpire checks UltraEdge and finds that the ball went under the gloves and there's no contact on the body either. It stays NOT OUT and the wide call will stay as well.

FOUR! Sweetly timed. Fuller in length, angled in, Chapman gets forward and smacks it wide of the fielder at mid-wicket and picks up a boundary.

On the shorter side and around leg stump, flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter one on leg, Phillips whips it away towards wide long on for another single.

Quick and short, darted into the pads. Chapman flicks it down to long leg for one more.

Varun starts with a length ball, bowling it in line with the stumps. Robinson presses back and punches it down to long on for a single. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.

Good length on off, sliding on, Phillips rocks back and forces it down to long on for one more.

OUT! CAUGHT! No timing on it whatsoever from Tim Robinson and he has to walk back to the shed. Varun Chakaravarthy drags the length back by a couple of inches and keeps it fairly straight. Robinson opts to charge down the track but miscues it completely. The ball lobs straight towards short mid-wicket, where Shivam Dube takes a straightforward catch and the brewing stand is broken. Varun gets a wicket in his first over and Robinson walks back after making 21 (15).

Shorter in length and around off, Mark Chapman swats it off the back foot and gets it through mid-wicket for a single.

A big wrong'un, on a length and angled into middle. Phillips hops back and tucks it behind square leg for a single.

Nicely bowled. Varun bowls this quicker and a bit fuller outside off. The ball holds its line as Chapman ends up playing inside the line.

Axar uses his height and lands the ball on a good length, darting it back into the batter. Robinson backs away and jams it into the off side.

Flatter again, around middle. Robinson shovels it off the back foot and gets it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

A touch fuller and in line with the stumps, Phillips strokes it back to the bowler.

That's excellent from Rinku Singh in the deep. Fuller one, drifted into middle, Glenn Phillips hoicks it away and gets it well to the right of deep mid-wicket. Rinku sprints across the turf and dives in to save a couple of runs.

SIX! Clean as a whistle. Marginally short, sliding in towards middle and leg. Glenn rocks back early and short-arm pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

On the shorter side again, Phillips rocks back and pulls it to the right of Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs more. The 50 also comes up for the Kiwis, right at the end of the Powerplay.

Attacking the front pad with a full ball, Phillips works it to mid on.

The length is pulled back, on off, Phillips looks to nudge it into the off side but does not pick the slower ball. Ends up bunting it down on the off side. They cross.

Skidding through, on a back of a length, on middle. Tim hops and drops it beside the strip on the leg side for one more.

FOUR! Absolutely hammered! A bit too full from Bumrah, pace off, on off. Phillips does not miss out as he smashes it past the diving Suryakumar Yadav at cover for a four.

Good comeback! A sharp and quick bumper from Bumrah, outside off, Phillips hops to flay at it but the ball keeps rising and he is beaten for pace.

Honing in on the stumps, full in length, Glenn plays a punchy drive on the bounce towards the bowler. Bumrah sticks out his left hand on his follow-through to make the stop.

Wide! Hardik bends his back and digs it in short, over off. Robinson swivels but then bails out of the pull. The ball sails over his head for a wide.

FOUR! Off the edge! Pace off at 113.6 kph, on a length, outside off, Robinson throws his hands at it and it flies off a thickish outside edge, past short third for a four.

SIX! Nothing streaky about this one! Hardik hits the hard length, over middle. Tim stands tall and just effortlessly pulls it off the front foot over mid-wicket for a flat six.

Another off-cutter, on a length, on off, Robinson punches towards extra cover and takes a quick single.

On off, on a back of a length, Phillips drives it on the up straight to extra cover, where Rinku does not quite judge the bounce and the ball deflects away off his leg, allowing a single.

Hardik hurls it on a good length, outside off, Tim extends his hands and knocks it to extra cover.

FOUR! Ishan Kishan's effort goes in vain. Hardik floats it up, outside off, Robinson leans on and drills it all along the ground, wide of deep cover. Ishan flings himself to his right in the deep and gets a hand on it but it is not enough. The ball trickles behind into the fence. 17 runs off the over and New Zealand are starting to get a bit of momentum.

FOUR! Lovely shot! A bit of shape back into the right-hander, on a length, on middle. Phillips brings his wrists into play and threads the gap between mid on and mid-wicket for the first four of the chase.

This swings away, full and on off, Glenn strokes it in front of mid off for a single.

Tight single! Arshdeep lands it on a back of a length, on middle. Robinson gets on top of the bounce and tucks it in front of Ishan Kishan at a catching mid-wicket. Kishan swoops in and has a shy at the bowling end whilst losing his balance. Tim dives to get home. It would have been interesting had the throw hit.

On a good length, outside off, Phillips flashes but ends up chopping it down on the deck.

Around off, Phillips punches this length ball to cover.

SIX! Hit with real authority! Arshdeep lands it on the fuller side, on off, Phillips just holds his shape and swings through the line. Tonks it over mid off and picks up a six.

A gentle outswinger at 128 kph, on a good length, punched on the up to cover without much timing.

Another one that leaves the left-hander, on a nagging length, Ravindra tries to hit this one on the rise but mistimes it to mid off.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Hardik strikes from the other end and backs up what Arshdeep did in the first over. Angling away again, on a back of a length, on middle. Ravindra uses his feet this time but is nowhere near the pitch of it. He pushes hard at the ball to force it down the ground. Gets an outside edge and it is snaffled by Abhishek Sharma to his left at slip. New Zealand are 1/2, chasing 239.

Fuller and on middle, Phillips taps it in front mid on and steals a quick single from Arshdeep Singh, who is caught on his heels.

A bit of hesitation but no harm done. Keeps the stumps in play, does Hardik, on off, Robinson dabs it towards cover and wants to sneak in a single but Phillips is not interested and he sends Tim back. It was the right call as Rinku was quick to get to the ball.

Just out of reach! Pandya drags the length back, on off, Robinson stays put in the crease and swings through the line. Skies it off the bottom half of the blade but he gets enough bat on it to evade the backtracking Suryakumar Yadav at mid on. Two runs taken.

Slightly wayward from Singh first up. He drifts down leg in search of swing but the ball stays within the new guideline for wide on the leg side. Conway gets on his toes to flick it away but misses.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A stunner from Sanju Samson. Devon Conway departs for a two-ball duck. Full and moving away in the air. Conway extends his hands away from his body and goes hard on the lofted drive on the off side. The ball takes the outside edge and it loops behind towards the keeper. Samson dives to his left and sticks out his left glove to hold onto a fine catch.

On a length, outside off, Rachin reaches out and cracks the drive but picks out the man at point.

Inswinger attempted by Arshdeep, on a good length, outside off. Ravindra pushes hard at the ball. The ball goes off the outside edge down to deep third for a single.

Rapped on the pads! A prolonged appeal from Arshdeep Singh but turned down. Suryakumar Yadav has a word with the bowler and the keeper. He takes the review just before the timer runs out. Is it doing too much? The first replay does seem to indicate so. Pitched up by Arshdeep from over the wicket, Robinson stays rooted to the crease and brings his bat out in front for the flick. He is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the front pad. No bat involved but the Ball Tracking has the ball swinging beyond the leg pole. India burn an early review.

Keeps it nice and full, on middle. Tim brings his wrists into play and works it to mid-wicket.