Opting to bowl first after winning the toss? No, New Zealand batted after losing it, and they made a strong start. Conway and Seifert’s 43/1 in powerplay set the tone, but wickets tumbled to 43/2. Ravindra’s aggressive 44 (4×6, 2×4) and a 55-run alliance with Phillips revived them to 98/3.

Santner played the finisher’s role superbly, his 47* off 27 balls (6×4, 1×6) lifting NZ to 208/6. India’s bowlers struck back: Kuldeep’s 2/XX, with Rana, Chakaravarthy, and Dube chipping in.

India’s reply began disastrously at 6/2 with Samson and Sharma out cheaply. Enter Ishan and Surya. Their third-wicket blitz of 122 runs in 48 balls was pure T20 carnage. Kishan’s 32-ball 76 exploded with boundaries galore.

Post Kishan, Surya’s class shone through. His 37-ball 82* featured elegant strokeplay, complemented by Dube’s 36* off 18. The unbroken 81-run partnership in 37 balls made light work of the target.

New Zealand’s bowlers struggled; Henry, Duffy, Sodhi managed one scalp apiece. This victory highlights India’s depth and aggression, positioning them strongly in the series. Fans are already buzzing about the next clash.