The first T20I game of the five-match series between New Zealand and India got underway on October 22, 2026, at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. It is the start of a long and grueling tour for India that also features five ODIs and two Test matches.
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first. Finn Allen slammed 45 in 24 balls, and Tim Siefert made 24 in 17 balls. But it was the fiery knock by Glenn Phillips, who made 82* off 40 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes, and Bevon Jacob’s 16-ball 31 runs that powered New Zealand to 225/4 in 20 overs.
In response, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 93 runs in 5.5 overs. Sharma was the first one dismissed for 29 in 12 balls, and many expected Ishan Kishan to walk out at no. 3. Kishan has done well at the no. 3 spot since his return to the Indian side, scoring 986 runs in 30 T20Is with one ton and 6 fifties at a strike rate of 165.71.
However, Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management has believed in a flexible batting order apart from the openers, and hence Tilak Varma walked in at no. 3 in the first T20I. This was despite the fact that New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was bowling himself and Michael Bracewell, two spinners, with Glenn Phillips waiting.
Tilak Varma struggled to get going against spinners, and this resulted in undue pressure on Sanju Samson, who perished for 67 off 33 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes. While Tilak Varma usually batted at no. 3, he was pushed to the no. 5 position to accommodate Ishan Kishan and the fact that Tilak is very good against pacers.
In the Christchurch T20I, Varma struggled against Santner and Bracewell before perishing for 6 runs off 11 balls, dismissed by Bracewell.
This decision to send in Tilak Varma at no. 3 for no particular reason by Gautam Gambhir and co. led to severe backlash from Indian fans on social media. They slammed the head coach for unnecessarily tinkering with a set batting order for no clear reason.
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