Naman Dhir created history as India completed their highest successful run chase in T20I in the first game of a five-match series against New Zealand on Thursday (October 22) at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch as he continued to impress in international cricket.
Playing only his sixth T20I for India since his debut earlier this month, the all-rounder made 42 runs in just 15 balls at a strike rate of 280 to ensure the visitors chased down 226 with two balls to spare.
Naman walked out to bat at number 7 after Axar Patel’s dismissal, with the match evenly balanced as India needed 59 runs in 33 balls at the stage. The Mumbai Indians’ (MI) star put up a 43-run partnership with skipper Shreyas Iyer and later hit the winning runs. His knock included five boundaries and two sixes.
Naman Dhir Creates History
Naman’s knock of 42 is the highest by an Indian batter in a successful run chase by a number seven or lower batter. He broke a record Irfan Pathan held for the last 17 years. Overall, it is the second-highest individual score by an Indian batter who walked out after the loss of the fifth wicket (or later), behind Axar Patel’s 66 against Sri Lanka in a T20I at Pune in 2023, in a game the Men in Blue. Overall, it is the fifth-highest individual score by an Indian number seven (or below) in a T20I.
Highest Individual Score In A T20I By an Indian From Number 7 Or Below In A Successful Run Chase
| Player | Runs | Opponent | Year | Venue |
| Naman Dhir | 42 | New Zealand | 2026 | Christchuch |
| Irfan Pathan | 33 | Sri Lanka | 2009 | Colombo (Premadasa) |
| Dinesh Karthik | 29 | Bangladesh | 2018 | Colombo (Premadasa) |
| Washington Sundar | 26 | Chennai | 2025 | Chennai |
| Yusuf Pathan | 22 | Colombo | 2009 | Colombo (Premadasa) |
Meanwhile, Naman is also the first player in the world to score over 40 runs against New Zealand in a successful T20I run chase. The record was previously held by his Mumbai Indians’ (MI) teammate Will Jacks since the 2026 T20 World Cup, where the Harry Brook-led side pulled off a stunning victory in a Super 8 game at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium
Most Runs From Number 7 Or Below In A T20I Against Zealand In A Successful Chase
| Player | Team | Runs | Ground | Year |
| Naman Dhir | India | 42 | Christchurch | 2026 |
| Will Jacks | England | 33 | Colombo (Premadasa) | 2026 |
| Asif Ali | Pakistan | 26 | Sharjah | 2021 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | Pakistan | 25 | Christchurch | 2022 |
| Tim Bresnan | England | 23 | Gros Islet | 2010 |
Overall, tally of 42 runs is the joint-fourth-highest in a T20I chase from number seven or below, alongside UAE’s Aayan Afzal Khan and behind Iftikhar Ahmed (60), Romario Shepherd (49), and Abdul Samad (44). However, all four were in a losing cause. Meanwhile, as far as the first innings are concerned, only Marco Jansen (55 in a losing cause) and Rinku Singh (44 in a winning cause) made more after walking out to bat following the loss of the team’s fifth wicket.
Overall, Namna’s knock is the ninth-highest against a Test-playing nation from number 7 or below in a T20I in a successful run chase. However, nobody has scored over 40 runs from the position in a winning cause while chasing and had a better strike rate.