India achieved their highest successful run chase in Twenty20 International cricket by reaching 230 for six with two balls to spare in the opening T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson highlighted the importance of maintaining focus on his own game and trusting his preparation amid the pressures of representing India.
Speaking after the match, Samson said, “To be very honest, you can’t focus on what people on social media or others are saying. You have to stay committed to the process and create the right environment for yourself. Playing for Indian cricket is not easy, with so much noise and so many people having their own opinions. But I don’t play this game with the mindset of proving anyone wrong. I keep my cricket at the forefront, trust my process, respect my practice and focus on doing the best I can. I like to keep things simple and stay focused on what I can control, rather than letting outside opinions influence my mindset.”
Samson’s innings of 67 runs from 33 balls helped India establish a strong platform before Naman Dhir’s aggressive unbeaten 42 off 15 balls secured a thrilling four-wicket victory. The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Samson credited the team’s fearless approach throughout all phases of the innings for their record-breaking chase, underscoring their intent to take the initiative early and maintain pressure on the opposition. He noted that the attacking mindset adopted by India since their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph is based on backing their strengths, ensuring consistency and prioritising the team’s interests, even when results are not always favourable.
He explained, “We approach the powerplay, middle overs and death overs very differently. Even when chasing 170, if we get off to a flying start, we make sure we try to finish the game in the powerplay itself. That’s something we’ve been doing really well over the last couple of years. I think that’s the mentality we’ve developed. It’s not just Abhi and me; whoever represents Indian cricket is following this style, especially since we won the 2024 World Cup. We just have to stick to what’s working for us as a team, keep building on it and try to execute it in every game. Sometimes it comes off beautifully, and sometimes it doesn’t, but we have to keep believing in ourselves, putting the team first and continuing to play this way.”
Despite a mid-innings collapse threatening to undermine their chase, India held firm to complete the win. The sides now prepare for the second match of the series.