India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the first T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Thursday, chasing 226 to finish on 230 for 6 in 19.4 overs, ESPNcricinfo and CricketWorld reported. It was India's highest successful chase in T20 internationals, surpassing their previous record of 209, according to Sportskeeda's records round-up of the match.

Source: ESPNcricinfo match report, Oct 22, 2026

New Zealand had posted 225 for 4 after India chose to field, built around Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, Finn Allen's 45 off 24 and Bevon Jacobs' 31 off 16. ESPNcricinfo noted that 225 was New Zealand's highest T20I total against India. Phillips and Jacobs added 73 off 33 balls for the fourth wicket.

230/6India's score in 19.4 overs
226target — India's highest successful T20I chase
67 off 33Sanju Samson's innings
42* off 15Naman Dhir's finishing knock

Sanju Samson, named player of the match, and Abhishek Sharma (29 off 12) put on 93 for the first wicket in just 35 balls, with Samson reaching a 23-ball half-century. New Zealand then fought back through spinners Michael Bracewell (2 for 37) and Mitchell Santner (2 for 39) as India slipped from 93 for 0 to 122 for 4.

Captain Shreyas Iyer made 42 off 28 and Axar Patel 24 off 14 to revive the chase, before Naman Dhir's unbeaten 42 off 15 balls took India home, Dhir finishing the match with a six with two balls remaining, both ESPNcricinfo and CricketWorld reported. The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Source: CricketWorld — India chase 226 to defeat New Zealand