Axar Patel's Crucial Wicket Sinks Kiwis in T20 Opener

Axar Patel's key wicket of Glenn Phillips (78) helped India defend a massive 238/7 total in the first T20I against New Zealand. Read match highlights.

In the opening T20 International against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 21, India established a commanding total of 238 for 7. Abhishek Sharma was the star performer with a blistering 84 runs off just 35 deliveries. Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh also contributed valuable runs to set a challenging target.

New Zealand's chase saw Glenn Phillips score a rapid 78 off 40 balls, but his departure marked a turning point. Axar Patel's crucial wicket of Phillips in the 14th over, caught by Shivam Dube, significantly hampered the visitors' progress. Varun Chakaravarthy emerged as India's leading bowler, taking two wickets.

As of the report, New Zealand was at 151 for 5 after 15.3 overs, with Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell at the crease. This victory would give India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

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