IND vs NZ 1st T20I: Sanju Samson 67, Naman Dhir Blitz Pull Off 226 Chase in Christchurch Thriller

India pulled off a spectacular high-scoring heist on Thursday night at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, chasing down 226 to edge New Zealand by four wickets with two balls to spare. Glenn Phillips had propelled the Black Caps to 225 for 4 with a breathtaking 82 off 40 balls, punishing India's pace attack under lights.

Before the opening delivery, our detailed IND vs NZ match preview pointed toward Christchurch's true drop-in deck producing a run-fest.

Fans tracking every boundary through DailyCricInfo were treated to pure drama. Sanju Samson led the chase with a sparkling 67, followed by captain Shreyas Iyer's steady 42, before young finisher Naman Dhir tore apart the death overs to seal a 1-0 series lead.

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3 Key Match Takeaways: How India Hunted Down 226

• Glenn Phillips sets Christchurch alight: Phillips hammered eight boundaries and three sixes in his 40-ball 82, sharing vital stands with Finn Allen and Daryl Mitchell.
• Samson's blistering powerplay launch: Sanju Samson went all out from ball one, striking 67 off just 33 deliveries with eight fours and four huge sixes.
• Naman Dhir's clutch finishing: Walking in under severe pressure, Dhir struck 42 off only 15 balls at a strike rate of 280, hitting Matt Henry out of the attack to win the game.

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Glenn Phillips Blasts 82 as New Zealand Post Formidable 225

Asked to bat first by India skipper Shreyas Iyer, New Zealand flew out of the blocks.

Finn Allen took down Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay, smashing five fours and two sixes in a quick 24-ball 45. Tim Seifert chipped in with a brisk 24 before Axar Patel got him caught in the seventh over.

Glenn Phillips then took full charge.

Phillips treated the Hagley Oval crowd to clean strokeplay, punishing loose deliveries to reach his half-century in just 27 deliveries. Daryl Mitchell added an unbeaten 28, while debutant Bevon Jacobs smoked three sixes in a 16-ball 31. New Zealand plundered 68 runs in the final five overs, closing their innings on an imposing 225 for 4.

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Samson and Naman Dhir Break Black Caps Attack in Chase

Chasing 226, India wasted no time throwing counter-punches.

Abhishek Sharma launched Mitchell Santner for three towering sixes in his 12-ball 29 before falling to Lockie Ferguson. Sanju Samson took complete control, pulling and lofting over extra cover with effortless timing.

Samson raced to 67 off 33 balls before Michael Bracewell had him caught in the 12th over.

Shreyas Iyer held the middle overs together with 42 off 28 deliveries, but when Mitchell Santner removed Iyer and Nitish Kumar Reddy in quick succession, India still needed 41 from 18 balls.

That was when Naman Dhir unleashed mayhem.

Dhir targeted Matt Henry and Adam Milne, smashing five boundaries and two clean sixes. Axar Patel chipped in with a vital 24 off 14 deliveries. Needing six off the final over bowled by Matt Henry, Dhir carved a full toss through extra cover to seal the chase at 230 for 6 in 19.4 overs.

Sanju Samson took the Player of the Match trophy for his tone-setting 67.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who won the 1st T20I between India and New Zealand?

India won by four wickets, chasing down New Zealand's 225 with two balls remaining at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Who was named Player of the Match in the Christchurch T20I?

Sanju Samson won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning 67 off 33 balls, featuring eight fours and four sixes.

What was Glenn Phillips's score for New Zealand?

Glenn Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with 82 runs off 40 balls, hitting eight boundaries and three sixes.

How many runs did Naman Dhir score in the final overs?

Naman Dhir scored an explosive 42 not out from just 15 deliveries at a strike rate of 280 to finish the chase.

What was India's final score in the 1st T20I chase?

India finished on 230 for 6 in 19.4 overs, completing their second highest successful T20I run chase on foreign soil.

When is the 2nd T20I between India and New Zealand?

The second T20I takes place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.