Sanju Samson's blazing 67 sets up India's record T20I chase against New Zealand

There were concerns around the Indian team being jetlagged when it arrived at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval for the first T20I against New Zealand on Thursday. After all, the team were involved in a T20I series-decider vs West Indies in Bengaluru last Saturday.By the end of the Powerplay in India’s innings, however, it was the hosts who looked dazed as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma unleashed another of their trademark assaults in pursuit of 226. Samson’s dazzling 67 off 33 balls laid the foundation for India’s highest successful T20I chase, with Naman Dhir’s unbeaten 42 off 15 balls sealing a four-wicket victory with two deliveries to spare.There is a striking simplicity to the way Samson and Abhishek go about their business. Compulsively, they seem to challenge the 100-run mark in the Powerplay. Scoring at least 80-plus, now seems routine. On Thursday, it was Samson who led the charge as India raced to 94/1 in six overs, with Abhishek contributing a brisk 29 off 12 before falling off the penultimate ball of the Powerplay. The significance and impact of Samson’s knock extended beyond just the runs. It bought valuable time for captain Shreyas Iyer to assess the large boundaries and rebuild after India stumbled against Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell.From 93 without loss, India slipped to 122/4, briefly allowing New Zealand to get back into the contest. The hosts hardly helped themselves. Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson struggled for control, conceding 16 wides, while New Zealand also shelled three catches. By then, Samson and Abhishek had already shaken the home side’s confidence. Every one of Samson’s eight fours and four sixes seemed to drive a dagger in their hearts and hopes. India’s T20 blueprint is now well established. Their openers are encouraged to attack relentlessly, irrespective of the target. “Even if we are chasing 170 and we’ve got off to a flyer, we make sure we kill the game in the Powerplay itself. That’s what we’ve been doing really well in the last couple of years,” Samson said after the match.The high-risk and high-reward approach has the potential to backfire too but Samson stressed about the importance of self-belief and the attitude of keeping the team first at all times. The aggression is tactical rather than reckless. Samson’s greatest strength is his ability to remain composed amid the chaos. He rarely appears rushed, even while dismantling bowling attacks. Against New Zealand, he dealt comfortably with the short-ball ploy before unfurling a series of clean straight hits that left the bowlers searching for answers. Standing slightly leg-side of the ball, he created room to access different parts of the ground without sacrificing shape or balance.Brief scores: New Zealand 225/4 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 45, Glenn Phillips 82 n.o.; Mayank Yadav 1-40) lost to India 230/6 in 19.4 overs (Sanju Samson 67, Shreyas Iyer 42, Naman Dhir 42 n.o; Michael Bracewell 2-37).Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.