Samson, Iyer and Dhir pull off record chase against NZ in T20I series opener
Entertainment galore in Christchurch, with Glenn Phillips' 40-ball 82 going in vain for the hosts
22/10Result
1st T20I (N), India tour of New Zealand at Christchurch, Oct 22 2026
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![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
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![India]( "India")
230/6 (19.4/20 ov)
Player of the Match
22/10Result
1st T20I (N), India tour of New Zealand at Christchurch, Oct 22 2026
-
![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
-
![India]( "India")
230/6 (19.4/20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Day
Shreyas Iyer: Pitch got flatter in second innings in Christchurch
Samson said his stint behind the stumps gave him a reference point for what to do while batting in Christchurch
India bring in Reddy and Mayank, ask New Zealand to bat in first T20I
New Zealand have marked Daryl Mitchell to bat at No. 3 and have slotted Bevon Jacobs to bat in the middle order
Phillips and Samson put their magic hands up
Batting in white-ball cricket has become less about where the head is or the feet go and more about what the hands do
Santner: 'Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand'
The New Zealand captain was also wary of the threat of India's top order, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, ahead of the T20I series-opener in Christchurch
Preview
Jetlagged India brace for New Zealand challenge
Shreyas Iyer's captaincy will be in the spotlight once again, while New Zealand fans look forward to a rare glimpse of Finn Allen at home