Nagpur, India - In a thrilling start to the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, India secured a 48-run victory at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. While Abhishek Sharma's explosive 84 off 35 balls set the stage, and Rinku Singh's late cameo propelled India to their highest T20I score against the Kiwis, Suryakumar Yadav's innings of 32 runs in his 100th T20I match sparked conversation.
Yadav, the Indian T20I captain, reflected on his performance with remarkable honesty. Despite the milestone and the team's victory, he acknowledged his recent form has been a concern. In his last four matches, he has only managed to score 34 runs. Addressing his form, Yadav stated, "I've been short of runs, but I can't change my identity".
Yadav became the fourth Indian cricketer to play 100 or more T20Is, joining Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. He also broke Babar Azam's record to become the fastest player from a full-member nation to reach this milestone, achieving it in just 1,774 days compared to Azam's 2,410.
"I have decided to keep doing what I have been doing for the last three or four years, as that has brought me a lot of success," Suryakumar added. He emphasized the importance of sticking to his established approach, indicating a determination to trust his methods despite the recent dip in form. "If the performance comes, I'll take it; if it doesn't, it's back to the drawing board".
Sent in to bat first, India initially struggled, losing Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan early. However, Abhishek Sharma's aggressive innings, which included eight sixes and five boundaries, shifted the momentum. Sharma brought up his seventh T20I half-century in just 22 balls, setting a record for the fastest 50 by an Indian against New Zealand in this format. Yadav contributed a steady 32 before being dismissed. Rinku Singh's explosive finish, scoring 44 not out off 20 balls, pushed India's total to 238/7.
In response, New Zealand struggled to keep pace, with Glenn Phillips' 78 off 40 balls being the only significant contribution. Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube each took two wickets, helping to restrict New Zealand to 190/7.
Yadav praised Sharma's preparation and attitude, acknowledging the opener's impressive form. "I felt good when I went into bat. It was the perfect time for me to go into bat. Good pressure situation. I've been batting in that situation," Yadav said. He also mentioned that he has been batting well in the nets and that he isn't concerned about his form at the moment.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, India will look to fine-tune their performance in the remaining matches of the series. The next game will be played on Friday in Raipur.
