HIGHLIGHTS India vs New Zealand, New Zealand in India 5 T20I Series 2026, 3rd T20- Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for India's response with the bat. Out walk the umpires and players. The players of New Zealand spread out to take their fielding positions. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are the two openers for India. Matt Henry has the new ball and is raring to go. Samson to face. Here we go!

... THE RUN CHASE ...

So 154 it is for India to chase and seal the series. Two of the three completed matches at Guwahati have been won by the side batting second. And given how lethal the Indian batting unit has looked in this series, they would feel it is their game to lose. New Zealand, meanwhile, never quite found their rhythm with the bat and will now need a full-throttle effort with the ball if they are to keep the series alive. Sanju Samson has been hunting for runs, and this shapes up as a golden opportunity to lock down the opening spot with Ishan Kishan breathing down his neck at number 3. Back in a bit with the run chase.

Glenn Phillips, the man in red-hot form, and Mark Chapman sparked a brave fightback with a 52-run stand. But once Ravi Bishnoi broke that partnership, New Zealand struggled to stitch anything meaningful together as India kept striking at regular intervals. From a relatively steady 86/3, they slipped to 112/6, with India firmly in control of the contest, blowing away the middle order of the Kiwis. It was only through Santner's timely breezy knock of 27 off 17 in the backend that pushed the total past 150.

New Zealand couldn't have gotten off to a worse possible start as they lost the top three inside the Powerplay itself. Conway yet again failed to impress, falling prey to Harshit Rana for the fifth time on this tour, while Seifert was undone by an absolute corker of a delivery produced by Bumrah upon his return in the side. At 34/3, with the cream of their batting already in the hut, New Zealand were dented badly, pushed for a reset and rebuild from scratch.

A very clinical bowling effort from India. They just didn't allow the Kiwis any freedom and effectively prevented them from forming any meaningful partnership. Barring Phillips and Chapman, no batter from the top five could cross 20 runs. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi, the two incoming faces in the XI for this game, made the biggest impact tonight, both keeping things tight and conceding at under a run a ball. While Bumrah finished with 3/17 in four overs, Bishnoi was equally miserly with figures of 2/18.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jacob Duffy, A single to end the innings! Bumrah nails the yorker, on middle. Jacob gets his bat down and jams it out beside the strip on the off side for a single. New Zealand finish with 153!

Jasprit Bumrah to Jacob Duffy, On a good length, off-cutter, on off, Duffy swings across aerially to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Jasprit Bumrah to Ish Sodhi, Sodhi was gone had the throw hit! Right in the blockhole, on off, Ish squeezes it out to cover and sets off for the run. Suryakumar Yadav swoops in, picks the ball up and has a shy at the bowling end. Sodhi had given up but SKY missed the stumps.

Jasprit Bumrah to Ish Sodhi, FOUR LEG BYES! Harshit Rana's effort goes in vain. A sharp and quick bumper, aimed at the body by Bumrah. Sodhi ducks under it and the ball keeps climbing. The keeper, Sanju Samson leaps and gets a hand on it. The ball trickles behind towards the deep fine leg fence. Rana sprints to his left from deep third and dives to push the ball away from the fence. The third umpire is called into action. It is a matter of one frame and the replays show that his body came in contact with the boundary cushions first and then he let the ball go.

Has Harshit saved a few runs for his side? Harshit Rana races around from deep third and manages to flick it back into play, but he appears to be brushing the boundary cushions in the process. The TV umpire has been called in and this one is far tighter than it first looked. However, after a couple of replays, it is deemed that his body was in contact with the boundary cushions while holding the ball in hand.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jacob Duffy, Slips it in a short of a length, on middle. Duffy makes room and slaps it back past the bowler for a single.

Jacob Duffy is the last batter in for New Zealand.

Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, OUT! CAUGHT! Mitchell Santner holes out. He will be gutted to have missed out. This was a low full toss, on middle and leg. Santner cleared the front leg and swung across the line. He was hurried and got it high on the bat. It went only as far as deep mid-wicket, where Abhishek Sharma ran to his right and did the rest. Santner falls for 27 (17). New Zealand are now 9 down for 144.

How much can New Zealand squeeze out from the final over? Jasprit Bumrah (3-0-12-2) to wrap up.

Harshit Rana to Mitchell Santner, Off-cutter at 113.1 kph, short and on off. Mitchell hops and eases the pull behind square. He keeps the strike with a single.

Harshit Rana to Ish Sodhi, Bashes the surface, over middle. Ish backs away and mistimes the pull to long on. They cross.

Harshit Rana to Ish Sodhi, Goes very full, a hint of tail back towards the off stump. Sodhi swings at it but is beaten on the inside edge. Not far away from crashing into the off pole.

Harshit Rana to Mitchell Santner, Outside off, on a short of a length, Santner chops it wide of cover for a single.

Harshit Rana to Mitchell Santner, Rana switches to around the wicket and bowls the slower bumper, over middle. Santner initially thinks about ducking under it before making a late decision to ramp it over the keeper. He ends up missing.

Harshit Rana to Mitchell Santner, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Rana bowls the off-cutter, full and outside off. A clean swing of the arms by Santner and he smokes it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Right. Penultimate over coming up. Harshit Rana (3-0-26-1) to bowl out.

Jasprit Bumrah to Ish Sodhi, A searing yorker, at the toes. Sodhi hurriedly gets his bat down and digs it out.

Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, On middle and leg, on a length, this is turned in front of square on the leg side for one.

Forget about getting past 160. Can New Zealand play the allotted 20 overs? Ish Sodhi walks in at number 10.

Jasprit Bumrah to Mitchell Santner, OUT! MATT HENRY IS RUN OUT! Full and straight, attacking the stumps, Santner powers the drive down to the left of long off. He wants to come back for the second and keep the strike. Henry is a bit slow to return and Kishan fires in a throw on the bounce. Bumrah stands beside the stumps and collects the ball to his left before whipping the bails off. The third umpire is called into action and the replays find Matt short of his ground by a fair bit. New Zealand are now 134/8.

Is Henry run out? Yes, he is. Bumrah collected the throw from Ishan Kishan and whipped the bails off with Henry out by a fair margin. The replay confirms.

Jasprit Bumrah to Matt Henry, On a hard length, outside off, cut away to deep cover for a single by Henry.

Two wickets for Bumrah so far. He has been spot on this evening. Matt Henry is the new batter in at number 9.

Jasprit Bumrah to Kyle Jamieson, OUT! TIMBER! Just too good for Jamieson. Skidding through, on a good length. Jamieson stays on the back foot and exposes all three stumps. He tries to whip it across the line but the ball sneaks past the inside edge and uproots the leg pole. Bumrah follows it up with a stare. New Zealand are now 7 down for 132.

Can New Zealand get past 160? They will have to as out of three completed games at this venue, to have won by the team chasing.

Jasprit Bumrah to Kyle Jamieson, Bumrah gets it very full, angling in on the leg stump. Jamieson jams it out to cover.

Shivam Dube to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Dube pushes the length up, on middle. Santner swings through the line and powers it back over the bowler's head. Dube gets both hands over his head but the ball is past him by then. Not a lot of ground to cover for the man at long off but he stood no chance.

Shivam Dube to Mitchell Santner, Pace on now, short ball, outside off, Santner flashes but fails to connect.

Shivam Dube to Kyle Jamieson, On a shortish length, outside off, Kyle drags the slower ball to long on. They cross.

Shivam Dube to Mitchell Santner, Skidding through, fuller and on off, Santner pats it to the left of extra cover for a run.

Shivam Dube to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! In the gap! Pace off, into the surface, outside off. Santner takes a step across and reaches out to flay it to the right of the man at deep point for a four.

Shivam Dube to Kyle Jamieson, Into the wicket, on off, Jamieson knocks it to long off and turns the strike over.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mitchell Santner, Tossed up, full and outside off, Santner extends his hands and cracks the drive wide of long off to his right for a couple of runs.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! Untidy from Shivam Dube. Floated up, very full, on off, Santner drills it down the ground. Dube moves to his left at long off but fails to get low enough. The ball goes under his hands and into the fence.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mitchell Santner, Googly, keeping it wide on off, on a length. Mitchell bunts it to cover.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mitchell Santner, Short and on off, Santner slaps it off the back foot between cover and long off for a couple of runs.

Ravi Bishnoi to Kyle Jamieson, No hat-trick! Googly, fuller and on off, Jamieson pushes it down to long off for a single.

New Zealand are under tremendous pressure now. They have lost both the set batters in the span of just four balls. Kyle Jamieson is in at number 8 and will face the Hat Trick ball from Bishnoi.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, OUT! CAUGHT! 'Catch it' is the call and Ishan Kishan makes no mistake. Bishnoi bowls it flat and short, on middle, Phillips rocks on the back foot and clears the front leg to unleash the pull. He gets it right off the toe end of the blade and it goes flat towards deep mid-wicket, where Ishan runs a few steps in off the ropes and takes it around his waist. The Kiwis needed Glenn to bat through but he falls for 48 (40). New Zealand are now 112/6. Bishnoi is on a hat-trick, having picked up a wicket on the last ball on his previous over.

Ravi Bishnoi to bowl out now.

Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, Well bowled! Short and slower around off. Santner shapes up for the pull, checks it midway and ends up ducking as the ball whistles past him.

Hardik Pandya to Mitchell Santner, On a shorter length, around off, Santner leans back and leaves.

In walks the skipper, Mitchell Santner. Played a really handy knock of 47 off 27 in Raipur. Need to play a same sort of a breezy knock to post a huge total.

Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! GONE! New Zealand lose half their side now. Hardik goes pace off once again, and bangs it short, outside the off stump. Mitchell arches back and uppercuts it, but gets no timing at all. Airs it straight down the throat of Ishan Kishan at deep point who makes no mistake. Daryl Mitchell departs on 14 off 8 and New Zealand are 112/5.

Hardik Pandya to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Outsmarts the bowler! Hardik bowls a slower bouncer, outside off. Daryl waits for it for an eternity and slaps it over backward point. Kuldeep Yadav leaps and stretches his left hand over his hand, but it flies over him for a boundary.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, Takes pace off, short, on middle, Phillips pulls it off the back foot to deep backward square leg for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, On a good length, on off. Phillips bunts it on the bounce off the back foot. Hardik leaps to his right on his follow-through and plucks it one-handed.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, A touch short, on leg, Phillips uses the depth of the crease and turns it to deep square leg for one. 10 off the over, 21 from the last 2 for the Kiwis.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Flat and on a length, outside off. Mitchell rocks back and plays it in the V, down to long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Far across the right-hander, beyond the tramline. Mitchell ignores. Wide called.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Smartly bowled. Lands it outside leg, it is the googly on a length. Daryl stabs it down the pitch.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, On middle, full in length, Phillips drives it along the turf to long off for one.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Had to hurry! Pitched outside leg, on a length. Phillips goes deep in the crease and nudges it using soft hands through square leg. Ishan Kishan runs in off the ropes and gets rid of the ball to the bowler's end, but Mitchell is in before Kuldeep collects and breaks the stumps.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Loose ball and gets the treatment! At 87.2 kph, this is flat and full, outside leg. Glenn gets down on a knee and sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a cracking boundary. 100 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, Attacks the stumps, on a fuller length, Phillips drives it down the ground, to the left of Rinku at long on for a single. 11 runs from the over.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Slower one by the looks of it, at 109.5 kph, full and outside off. Daryl tries to hit it downtown, but gets a thick inside edge onto the back pad. The ball deflects to the short third region and they cross.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Touch short, outside off, Mitchell steers it to the right of the diving Ishan Kishan at point for a couple of runs.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! He has picked the bones out of it! Short into the pitch, on off, Mitchell gets into a good position by going deep in the crease and pulls it over deep square leg for a huge six.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length, around off, Daryl covers the line and blocks it back to the bowler.

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, Rana goes full and on leg, Phillips flicks it to long on for a single.

A wicket falls, and that brings a new batter. Here's Daryl Mitchell. Harshit Rana (2-0-15-1) is back on.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Bishnoi has given a good account of himself and gets rewarded for his precise execution. He keeps it short and dishes out on a lower trajectory on a shorter length, outside off. Chapman goes for a flashy drive to the off side, but gets a thin outside edge and Samson does the rest behind the stumps with a sharp catch. The 52-run partnership is broken now as Mark Chapman falls for 32 off 23. New Zealand are 86/4.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, Fractionally short, around off. Glenn goes deep in the crease and cuts it to deep point for one more.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, Short and wide on off, Mark drags it across and plays it along the ground to long on for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, Quicker through the air, short on off, Phillips slaps it off the back foot to long off for a single. The 50-run partnership comes up between these two!

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, Flat, full, on off, Chapman shimmies down the track and flicks it past mid on for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, A slider on a fuller length, outside off, Chapman gets in an awkward position to cut it square, and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Jasprit Bumrah to Mark Chapman, Slower one, on a length, at 123 kph. Chapman dinks it to the mid-wicket region for a quick single. Another miserly over from Bumrah. Just 7 from it. His figures read 2-0-9-1 so far.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Lasers one on a fuller length, on middle, Phillips drills it down to long on for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Gets it through! Short of a good length, angled at the pads. Phillips short-arm jabs it off the back foot to the deep square leg region. Dube runs across to his left, dives to flick the ball in, but his effort goes in vain.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Sharp bouncer, outside off, Phillips leans back to play the uppercut, but misses.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Slants it into the batter, on a back of a length. Phillips plays from the crease and bunts it back to Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah to Mark Chapman, Pitched hard on a length, outside leg. Mark hangs back and steers it to deep square leg for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. The last two overs have been very productive for New Zealand as they have smashed 32 runs from those. Phillips is hitting the ball cleanly and Chapman has just found the rhythm as well. With the stand now worth 41, the message is clear from these two. To keep the foot down and push harder as 8s and 9s an over won't be enough on this wicket. India would want to break this partnership and push the Kiwis for another rebuild. Jasprit Bumrah (1-0-2-1) is back on after the hydration break. He replaces Kuldeep Yadav from this end.

Shivam Dube to Mark Chapman, Drags the length back, does Dube, on middle, Mark tucks it through mid-wicket and keeps the strike with a single. 13 runs off Dube's first over.

Shivam Dube to Mark Chapman, SIX! Hits the boundary cushions on the full! Dube takes pace off and tries to keep it away from the batter's hitting arc. Full and near the tramline, Chapman gets low, reaches out and slams it over cover for a six.

Shivam Dube to Glenn Phillips, Hurls it full, on leg, Phillips flicks it to deep mid-wicket. They cross.

Shivam Dube to Mark Chapman, Fuller and at the stumps, this is swiped away to deep square leg for a run.

Shivam Dube to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Easy pickings! Dube errs in line as he serves the short ball, down leg with fine leg inside the circle. Mark just swivels and pulls it behind square for a four.

Shivam Dube to Mark Chapman, On a back of a length, going across, Chapman advances down the track and goes after it with hard hands. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball goes nowhere.

Change from this end. Shivam Dube is brought into the attack now, replacing Ravi Bishnoi.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, Looped up, on middle, Mark mows it to long on for one more. A productive over for New Zealand. 19 runs off it. They will be hoping that this kickstarts their charge.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Shorter and on off, Glenn punches it to long off and turns the strike over.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, SIX! A nice step hit from Phillips! This is turning out to be a good over for the Kiwis. Floated up, on off, Phillips takes a step towards the pitch of the ball and just swings through the line. He pumps it back over the bowler's head and clears the long on fence with ease. 17 runs off the over with a couple of balls to go.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, Full and on middle, worked to long on for one.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, FOUR! Fortuitous boundary for Chapman! Bowls it flat and full, on middle. Mark shimmies down the track and ends up yorking himself. He had to get some bat on it or else he would have been stumped. Drops his bat down and the ball squirts off an inside edge past short fine leg for a four.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, SIX! Into the stands! Fractionally short, around leg, Chapman goes on the back foot in a flash and pulls it high and handsome over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, Keeps the stumps in play, full and quick, Mark whips it to long on. Just a single. Another tidy over from Bishnoi, just 4 off it.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, Dishes out the wrong'un, full and on off. Chapman punches it without much timing to extra cover.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, Bowls it short and quick, on off, Phillips smashes it back past the bowler, down to long off for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, Fuller and wider on off, Chapman reaches out and chops it through point for one.

Ravi Bishnoi to Mark Chapman, Googly, running across the left-hander, Mark taps it on the bounce back to the bowler.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, Pushed through, short and outside off, slapped to deep cover. They cross.

Change of ends for Ravi Bishnoi. Went for just 1 run off his first over. He replaces Bumrah.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Hangs it up there, fuller and on middle, Glenn works it wide of deep mid-wicket. He calls for two but has to settle with one as the fielder in the deep gets rid of the ball quickly.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Out comes the googly, fractionally short but slower through the air, on off. Phillips waits back and punches it to cover.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, Shorter and flatter, on middle, Chapman makes room and hits it down to long off for one.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, Flat and full, on middle, Mark steps out and ends up getting too close to the ball. He digs it out to mid-wicket.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mark Chapman, A slider, full and on middle and leg, Chapman wrists it to mid-wicket.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Flighted delivery, full and on leg, Phillips clips it in front of square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

That's the end of the Powerplay. Clearly, India have bossed it up. New Zealand need to rebuild. As the field spreads, Kuldeep Yadav is brought into the attack, replacing Bishnoi.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Some serious wheels from Bumrah! Hits the hard length and gets the ball to zip through, on middle. Phillips tries to fend it down but cops a bit of a blow on the glove. It goes behind on the leg side for one. At the end of 6 overs, New Zealand are 36/3.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, A flash and a miss! Off-cutter at 123 kph, on the shorter side, Phillips has a swing at it but the ball kicks up a bit to go over the flailing blade.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, On the fuller side, on off, Glenn is rushed and chops it down to cover-point.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Phillips, Skidding through, on a back of a length, on off, Phillips dabs it from the crease to point.

Jasprit Bumrah to Mark Chapman, On a back of a length, on middle, Chapman nudges it wide of mid-wicket to get off the mark.

New Zealand in early trouble once again. They have lost the top three inside the Powerplay. Mark Chapman is in at number 5.

Jasprit Bumrah to Tim Seifert, OUT! TIMBER! Jasprit Bumrah produces an absolute beauty, and the off stump goes for a toss. Bumrah steams in from over the wicket and lands it on a good length at 137 kph, in line with the off stump. Seifert brings his bat out in front as he looks to work it with the angle. He half-closes the bat face, trying to work it towards mid on. The ball threatens to angle in, but it holds its line to beat Tim on the outside edge and it uproots the off stump. 12 (11) for Seifert and New Zealand are now 34/3.

Time for Jasprit Bumrah. He replaces Hadik Pandya.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, A deceptive googly, shortish on middle. Phillips hangs deep and hits it to the cover fielder. Excellent over from Bishnoi. Just a single from it.

Ravi Bishnoi to Glenn Phillips, Keeps it flat and quick, outside the off stump. Glenn Phillips gets on the back foot and chop-cuts it to point.

Ravi Bishnoi to Tim Seifert, Flatter and fractionally fuller, on off, Seifert drives it down to long off for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Tim Seifert, Again, a length ball, outside off, Seifert drives it off the front foot to SKY at cover.

Ravi Bishnoi to Tim Seifert, A googly, short, on middle, Seifert hangs back and eases it to cover.

Ravi Bishnoi to Tim Seifert, Starts with a short leg break, outside off, Tim stands tall and slaps it away, but the cover fielder dives to his right and stops it.

Will Harshit bowl three on the trot? The answer is no. First look at spin tonight as the leggie Ravi Bishnoi comes on.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! That has pinged off his blade! A yard behind fuller length, outside off, Glenn Phillips hits it through the line and cracks the cover drive through the gap for a boundary.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, Bashes the length hard, jagging back in from off. Glenn stands tall and punches it back to the bowler.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, Slams the deck really hard, at 130.1 kph, outside off, Phillips plays off the back foot and knocks it solidly to cover.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, A deceptive slower bouncer on top of the stumps. Seifert waits and controls the pull shot along the ground to deep backward square leg. One taken.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, Hard length, on top of off, Glenn rides the bounce and punches it to the left of cover for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, Sharp running! Length ball, angling in and around leg, this is bunted to the left of mid-wicket for a quick run.

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, Skiddy delivery, short and on the bodyline. Glenn shapes up to jab it across the line to the leg side, but gets rammed near the chest and the ball bobbles up to the off side.

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, BEATEN! Zips through the deck, on a back of a length, outside off, Phillips goes for an expansive drive away from his body and gets beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Off the edge! Curves away from the batter, on a hard length. Phillips is rushed into the shot, trying to punch it away, but gets a thick under edge and the ball bounces over the leaping keeper to the fence behind.

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, On a good length, moving away, fended off the back foot to point.

Harshit Rana to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! That has gone like a tracer bullet! Short of a length, outside off, Glenn gets on top of it and square cuts it powerfully. Abhishek Sharma dives to his left, gets a decent hand on it, but it deflects away to the ropes.

Harshit Rana to Tim Seifert, Oh, nearly dragged on! Nips in from off, on a hard length. Tim tries to ride the bounce but gets a thick inside edge past the leg stump and the ball rolls towards backward square leg for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, Hits the deck hard, outside off, Glenn stays back and dabs it to the backward point region using soft hands.

Hardik Pandya to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Glorious stroke, no need to run for that! Hardik feeds it full, on off, shaping slightly away. Glenn Phillips gets on the front foot, head on the ball and laces it through the cover and mid off gap for a boundary.

Just like the previous game, New Zealand have lost 2 wickets within the first couple of overs. Glenn Phillips makes his way out to the centre.

Hardik Pandya to Rachin Ravindra, OUT! GONE! He couldn't have picked out the fielder any better. India are right on top as Hardik strikes now. He slams the deck hard, landing in thereabouts of the leg stump line. Rachin shapes up for the pull shot, hits it flat and to the left of the deep square leg fielder. Bishnoi, stationed there, moves a bit to his left, gets on his haunches and grabs a safe catch. Rachin Ravindra departs on 4 off 5 and New Zealand are 13/2.

Hardik Pandya to Rachin Ravindra, Shapes in a touch, pitched around leg, Rachin misses to whip it across and wears on the back pad.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, Superb effort by Kuldeep in the outfield! Slides one onto the pads, on a fuller length, Seifert flicks it off the back foot towards deep backward square leg. Kuldeep runs across from deep mid-wicket and slides to his right to push the ball away. Three taken.

Hardik Pandya to Tim Seifert, FOUR! A bit uppish, but in the gap! Angled onto the pads, on a fullish length. Tim mistimes the flick shot and chips it in the air, but wide of the mid on fielder for a boundary.

Hardik Pandya will operate from the other end.

Harshit Rana to Rachin Ravindra, Fired in a fuller length, on the pads, Rachin misses the flick and the ball squirts off the front pad to the keeper's left.

Harshit Rana to Rachin Ravindra, On a length on the leg stump. Rachin looks to poke at that but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Harshit Rana to Rachin Ravindra, FOUR! Graceful stroke! Full and wide outside off, Rachin leans on and effortlessly creams it past cover for a boundary to open his account.

Rachin Ravindra comes in at number 3.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! That's a spectacular catch from Hardik. And Harshit completes his five-for against Conway as well in this tour. Lands this on a fractionally fuller length, outside off, Coway tries to hit it up and over mid off, but his bat turns at the point of contact and is chipped towards mid off. Hardik shows his acrobatics as he times his jump to perfection to his left and manages to hold onto the catch despite falling hard on the ground. Conway falls for 1 (2) and New Zealand are 2/1.

Harshit Rana to Tim Seifert, Sharp inswinger on a good length, on leg, Tim plays it on the up and nudges it wide of mid on for a single. Seifert too, is off the mark.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Off the mark straightaway! Harshit steams in from around the stump, and lands it on a length, shaping it away, outside off, Devon presses back and stabs it to the point region for a quick single.

We are all set to get going in Guwahati. Suryakumar Yadav has his men in a huddle near the ropes before they disperse and take their respective places in the field. They are followed by the two Kiwi openers, Tim Seifert and Devon Conway. Harshit Rana will get things going with the ball. Harshit to Conway. Devon has been dismissed by Rana all 4 times they have come up against each other across formats in this series. A slip in place. Here we go!

India (Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi (In for Varun Chakaravarthy), Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah (In for Arshdeep Singh).

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson (In for Zakary Foulkes), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy.

The captain of New Zealand Mitchell Santner feels the pitch should be pretty good again and says they will assess how it plays before looking to put a strong score on the board. He believes the team batted really well in the previous game and admits that with the ball, they came up against a very strong opposition with plenty of firepower. Santner adds that the team takes what it can from each game and moves on quickly, especially given the nature of the schedule with different matches and venues coming in rapid succession. Informs that they have one change. Also shares that Neesham was about to play this game, but caught a stomach bug. Ends by mentioning that Zakary Foulkes makes way for Kyle Jamieson.

The captain of India Suryakumar Yadav says the wicket looks good and expects a bit of dew later in the evening, which has influenced the decision to chase. He stresses the importance of repeating the good habits from previous games, encouraging the players to enjoy themselves and trust their instincts when out in the middle, while also staying grounded. He adds that it is reassuring to have options like Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya chipping in with the ball. Informs that Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy have been rested with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi replacing them.

TOSS - Right. It's toss time, and both captains are in readiness for the coin flip with Simon Doull leading the proceedings. The team sheets are exchanged now. SKY has got the coin. Santner will call. Tails is the call from Santner, but it lands as a Head. INDIA WIN THE TOSS AND WILL BOWL FIRST.

PITCH REPORT - Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta and former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull are pitchside. Deep informs that the square boundaries measure 64 metres on one side and 66 metres on the other, with the straight hit being 74 metres. At first glance, Doull feels it doesn't look like a bad pitch at all. Mentions that there is a healthy grass covering, which should help the ball come nicely onto the bat. He adds that much of that grass appears dead and brown rather than fresh. Simon observes a few cracks, though not as many as were seen in the first couple of games. At the moment, there isn't much sheen on the surface, and it is on the drier side, but both Dasgupta and Doull agree that it could change later in the evening once the dew settles in.

BlackCaps seek consistency through reinforcements! For New Zealand, reinforcements are either already in or on the way. Lockie Ferguson has joined the squad, though his availability for this series remains uncertain. With the likes of James Neesham and Finn Allen set to come in as well, experience will not be in short supply. Rachin Ravindra finding his touch again is an encouraging sign, but after Zakary Foulkes went for plenty last time out, a change in the pace attack looks likely, with Kyle Jamieson expected to get the nod. The visitors clearly have the ideas and the tools to succeed in these conditions, but consistency and sustained execution remain the missing pieces, which they would want to sort out this time around. With the series on the line and everything to play for, expect nothing but fireworks again. Toss and teams coming up next very shortly. 

Batting brilliance fuels India’s charge! For India, the batting unit has flexed its muscle completely this time out. Abhishek Sharma is batting in a dream run, and India will hope that his purple patch rolls on just as it did through 2025. The first T20I was his show, the second was driven by Ishan Kishan’s scintillating assault, and capped off by Suryakumar Yadav’s breathless 82 as the Indian captain finally flipped the switch after a lean spell. And with an intimidating batting depth and options available, it looks sorted out for now. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to return under the rotation policy, which could see either Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh make way. Axar Patel’s availability remains uncertain, but on Guwahati’s typically slowish surface, India might be tempted to persist with a three-spinner combination.

A true fighting spirit, but missing results! New Zealand, meanwhile, have shown their trademark resilience, producing spirited fightbacks and refusing to roll over, as seen in this series too. However, that grit has not consistently converted into results, with the BlackCaps still without a single T20I win against Australia, England, or India since the last T20 World Cup. They face a must-win clash, as defeat would end their series hopes.

India’s T20I dominance stays intact! India’s road towards defending their T20 World Cup title has been nothing short of authoritative. Even if results in the other formats have wobbled, the shortest format has firmly belonged to them. This is a team dictating terms and overwhelming opponents. Since 29th June 2024, after ending their ICC trophy drought, India have suffered just five defeats while racking up 30 wins in 39 T20Is, numbers that scream dominance rather than mere form. The baton passing to the young gen has been smooth and effortless.

Super Sunday Blockbuster in Guwahati! After the fireworks of runs in Nagpur and Raipur, the five-match T20I series heads further east to the picturesque state of Assam for what promises to be a thrilling and decisive 3rd T20I. A very warm welcome to everyone at the scenic Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. India have stamped their authority on this series, leading 2-0, and will be looking to wrap it up here. The Blackcaps, meanwhile, are determined to strike back and keep their series hopes alive.

... MATCH DAY ...

Sunday Showdown! Super Sunday in Guwahati sets the stage for a potentially decisive contest as India and New Zealand lock horns in the third T20I of this five match series, with the hosts in complete control leading 2-0 and the visitors staring at a must-win situation. India's Dominance - India have dominated the series so far, winning both games convincingly and sending a strong message ahead of the World Cup. After Abhishek Sharma's explosive 84 off 35 powered India to a 48-run win in the opener, the second T20I turned into a landmark night as India pulled off a stunning chase of 209, their joint-highest successful T20I chase. It was also India's 100th T20I at home, highlighted by Ishan Kishan's 76 off 32 and a return to form for skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who sealed the game with an unbeaten 82 along with fireworks from Shivam Dube. With Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh still to come, it once again underlined the depth and flexibility in this Indian batting unit. However, Sanju Samson has been quiet in the two games and Shreyas Iyer might come in for him as he was named in the squad for the first three matches only, with Kishan doing the keeping duties. India's bowling has complemented the batting nicely. Harshit Rana made an immediate impact yet again after coming into the side, bowling a maiden-wicket over first up and removing Devon Conway, making it four games in a row with his wicket, including three times in the ODI series. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav have controlled the middle overs, while Hardik and Arshdeep Singh have chipped in with key breakthroughs. Jasprit Bumrah was rested in the last game and Axar Patel missed out due to an injury. It will be interesting to see whether they come back in the team or get some more time off to manage their workload. Do or Die for New Zealand - New Zealand, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency despite flashes of individual brilliance. Glenn Phillips' 78 in the first game and Mitchell Santner's fiery 47 in the second were positives, while Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman have looked fluent without converting starts into big scores. Tim Seifert could be a major X-factor at the top after a strong run in the Big Bash League, and his ability to take on the Powerplay may be key. With the ball, Matt Henry remains their main weapon, while Jacob Duffy, currently ranked 4th in the world in T20Is, has been impressive with his variations. Captain Santner, along with Ish Sodhi, needs to control the middle overs to try and contain the explosive batting unit of the hosts. Zakary Foulkes had a tough outing in the last game, conceding 67 runs in 3 overs and it is highly likely Kyle Jamieson comes in for him. Jamieson will also be under pressure to deliver after replacing the injured Adam Milne in the World Cup squad, making this series a crucial opportunity for him. Probable Playing XI - India - Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy. New Zealand - Tim Seifert (WK), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy. What to expect? The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati is known for being a batter-friendly venue, with flat surfaces and quick boundaries often leading to big scores. Interestingly, India have won only once in T20Is at this ground, with their two losses coming against Australia while batting first. With the pitch once again expected to favour stroke play, another high-scoring encounter could be on the cards as India look to wrap up the series and New Zealand fight to stay alive.