Gautam Gambhir urged India to "stay humble" after a record-breaking win sealed an unassailable 3-0 T20I series lead in New Zealand, with two more T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests still to come.Gautam Gambhir on India tour of New Zealand (PTI Photo) India head coach Gautam Gambhir had a simple message for his players after they hammered New Zealand in the third T20I in Wellington on Tuesday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series."Stay humble," Gambhir wrote on social media, sharing a photograph of the Indian team huddled together at Hnry Stadium.India have every reason to celebrate after producing a record-breaking performance, but Gambhir's message could also serve as a reminder that the tour is far from over. Two T20Is remain, followed by a five-match ODI series and a two-Test assignment, with each leg presenting a different challenge for the visitors.India have enjoyed success in New Zealand in the shortest format before, only to struggle when the action moved to the other formats.
During their 2020 tour, India won the T20I series 5-0 but were swept 3-0 in the ODIs. In 2022, they won the T20I series 1-0, while the ODI series ended 1-0 in New Zealand's favour.
The results underline the need for India to maintain their intensity beyond the current series. Screengrab from X The ODI leg, beginning in Auckland on November 4, will be particularly important as India build towards the 2027 World Cup.
Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be in focus as the team looks to sharpen its combinations and address any remaining concerns in the 50-over format. The five-match series will provide a valuable opportunity to test the squad against challenging conditions away from home.The two-Test series, beginning on November 19, carries even greater significance in the context of the World Test Championship.
India are currently fifth in the 2025-27 standings, with a points percentage of 51.52, while New Zealand are second at 72.22. With only the top two teams qualifying for the final, India cannot afford to squander opportunities in the remaining fixtures.
A strong performance in New Zealand would help strengthen their push for a place in the title decider. For now, however, the Indian camp can bask in the glow of a remarkable T20I series win.
India chased down New Zealand's 198 for three in just 13.2 overs, winning by six wickets and leaving the hosts with little opportunity to recover.Abhishek Sharma was the star of the show, smashing 113 off just 38 balls. He reached his century in 35 deliveries and struck 11 sixes and nine fours in a breathtaking display of power-hitting.
Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided the perfect foil, hammering 45 off 19 balls as the pair added 133 runs for the opening wicket.The duo also powered India to 118 runs in the first six overs, setting a new record for the highest powerplay total in a men's T20I. India raced to 50 in just 2.2 overs and brought up their hundred in five, turning a target of 199 into a one-sided chase.New Zealand had earlier relied on Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 89 off 52 balls to post a competitive total, but India's explosive start rendered it inadequate.
The visitors completed the chase with 40 balls to spare, sealing the series with two ma- Ends