India head coach Gautam Gambhir commended the team’s collective performance following their 3-2 victory over New Zealand in the five-match T20I series, despite a seven-wicket defeat in the final game at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Taking to X, Gambhir wrote, “Built as a Team. Won as a Team. Always for India ”
India secured an unassailable 3-0 lead during the series after winning the first three matches. However, New Zealand fought back by winning the last two games to narrow the final margin.
In the fifth T20I, New Zealand successfully chased a target of 192, achieving the total in 18 overs with seven wickets in hand. Tim Seifert scored 93 runs off 50 balls, including 11 fours and five sixes. Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 65 off 38 deliveries, hitting eight fours and three sixes. Together, they added 86 runs for the third wicket, positioning the hosts strongly.
Phillips marked his fourth half-century of the series, joining Mohammad Rizwan and S Ravichandran as the batters to register four or more 50-plus scores in a bilateral T20I series.
Earlier, India recovered from a challenging start at 19 for 2, thanks to a 93-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer. Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, including five fours and five sixes, while Iyer contributed 50 off 23 deliveries with three fours and four sixes. Naman Dhir added 33 off 23 balls, and Nitish Kumar Reddy supported with 22 runs from 17 deliveries, helping India reach 191 for 8 in their 20 overs.
New Zealand pacer Adam Milne was the leading bowler with four wickets for 19 runs. Blair Tickner and Nathan Smith also claimed wickets. Despite India’s competitive total, Seifert and Phillips led New Zealand to victory with 14 balls remaining.