India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I, chasing a target of 199 in 13.2 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
The chase was built on 118 without loss in the first six overs. According to The Times of India, that is the highest Powerplay total by a Full Member nation in men's T20 internationals.
The innings also drew a response from West Indies head coach Daren Sammy. He credited India's strength but listed smaller boundaries, batting-friendly pitches and a wet ball for bowlers as factors, which raises the question of how much conditions are driving scores of this kind.
How fast did India chase 199 against New Zealand?
India completed the chase with 40 balls remaining, The Times of India reported. Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put on 133 for the first wicket off 7.1 overs.
Abhishek scored 113 off 38 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes. Sooryavanshi, whom the newspaper described as a teenage sensation, made 45 from 19 deliveries.
The Times of India said the opening pair left a "depleted" New Zealand bowling attack with little room to recover. The report did not explain why the attack was depleted. It also did not give bowling figures or say how India's four wickets fell.
The report did not give the venue or date of the match.
India 118 powerplay record and other fast-scoring marks
The new Powerplay benchmark beat Romania's 116 for no loss against Serbia in 2021, according to The Times of India. The paper also listed several other fast-scoring marks India reached or approached during the chase:
- Fifty in 2.2 overs: This equalled the fastest team fifty in men's T20 cricket, matching Papua New Guinea against Vanuatu and Romania against Serbia.
- 100 in five overs: This was the second-fastest team hundred in men's T20 cricket, behind Eswatini against Mozambique earlier in 2026.
- 118 for no loss after six overs: This is the highest Powerplay total by a Full Member nation in men's T20Is.
The earlier holders of these fast-start marks are all Associate nations. India's innings brings a Full Member side into the same company.
What did Daren Sammy say about India?
Sammy reacted to the innings on X. He used it to support his earlier praise of his own side, which drew its recent five-match T20I series in India 2-2.
"Wow…. That's why I praised my team for what they accomplished in India. India is a dangerous team." — Daren Sammy, on X
In the same post he set out three points: smaller boundaries, pitches he called a batting paradise, and a wet ball for bowlers. The Times of India described these as challenges that help explain why India remain such a formidable opponent in the format.
Sammy's points about conditions are his own assessment. The report included no pitch or boundary data to test them.
The newspaper referred to India as the reigning two-time T20 world champions.
How the India-West Indies T20I series ended 2-2
India played West Indies in a five-match home T20I series before facing New Zealand. That series finished 2-2 after the fifth match in Bengaluru was abandoned because of rain, The Times of India reported.
Speaking after the washed-out game, Sammy said the result reflected the series.
"It's a true reflection of how all the teams have played, especially for our guys," — Daren Sammy
He had already called the draw a significant achievement against the defending champions on their home turf, and said his side had made a big step forward. He also suggested that few people had given West Indies a chance.
"I'm pretty sure when the series started, we probably didn't have a chance. But that was just the opinion of others." — Daren Sammy
"We played against the defending champions, and we've matched them (and) in certain areas we've outplayed them, especially in their backyard." — Daren Sammy
Against New Zealand, India have now won the first three matches of the series. Two games remain, and The Times of India report did not give their dates or venues.