TikTok powerplay stream, then Samson and Dhir fire India to a record chase
New Zealand Cricket tried something new for the opening T20I of India's tour. It put the first six overs of the Christchurch game on TikTok, free and in vertical format. The board called the Genesis Powerplay window a possible world-first for international cricket. <cite index="1-8,1-9">The feed came through the official Blackcaps TikTok account, in cooperation with Sky and WSC Sports, and covered only the opening overs, where fielding restrictions bring aggressive batting and early wickets.</cite> <cite index="3-5">Fans in New Zealand could also watch the full match free on Three and ThreeNow.</cite>
Indian fans can ignore the TikTok angle. <cite index="3-7">The app has been banned in India since 2021 over national security concerns.</cite> The Indian broadcast is unchanged. <cite index="2-4,2-5">The series is on Sony Sports Network, with streaming on SonyLIV.</cite> <cite index="3-7">DD Sports is also listed as a TV option.</cite> <cite index="13-3">The first game began at 12:30 pm IST, which is 8 pm local time.</cite> The same slot applies to all five games. The TikTok plan is only clearly confirmed for the first match's powerplay. Whether later games get the same treatment hasn't been spelled out.
The cricket was better than the experiment. India won a high-scoring game and took a 1-0 lead.
**New Zealand's total.** <cite index="28-3">The hosts made 225 for four, built on an unbeaten 82 from Glenn Phillips.</cite> That would have felt safe on a ground where chasing teams have often done well.
**The chase.** India did not treat 226 as a big ask. <cite index="31-8">Sanju Samson raced to fifty in 23 balls.</cite> <cite index="30-6">He finished with 67 off 33 balls, with eight fours and four sixes. Shreyas Iyer added 42 and Axar Patel 24.</cite> Abhishek Sharma's early contribution kept the rate up. Samson's innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
**The finish.** India needed 48 off the last 24 balls after Iyer fell, and the game was still open. <cite index="28-2">Naman Dhir then hit Matt Henry for a six in the final over to seal it.</cite> <cite index="30-10">He ended on 42 not out from 15 balls.</cite> <cite index="28-2">India finished on 230 for six in 19.4 overs,</cite> so they won by four wickets with two balls to spare.
The record matters for the T20 World Cup in 2028, which New Zealand and Australia will co-host. <cite index="29-1,29-4">It was India's highest successful T20I chase against New Zealand and the highest successful second-innings total at Hagley Oval.</cite> That is a useful data point when the touring side has had little time to adjust after a long journey.
The result also arrived with India missing key names. <cite index="2-2">Jasprit Bumrah is rested and Hardik Pandya picked up a fresh injury before the series.</cite> Iyer leads a young, batting-heavy squad. It includes Samson, Abhishek, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh, with Varun Chakaravarthy returning, carry the experience in the attack. Mayank Yadav took one wicket for 40 in his four overs, an early sign of how young pacers will fare against a strong New Zealand top order. Finn Allen, rarely seen at home, was part of that top order.
Two things stand out for India after one game. The top order can take an attack apart in the powerplay. And there is depth behind it, with Dhir finishing the chase when Iyer fell. The bowling is the worry, because 225 went past the visitors on a pitch that eased out under lights. The selectors will have noted that, and so will the new-ball bowlers heading to the second T20I.
The T20Is open a longer tour. <cite index="14-6">The India tour of New Zealand runs from 22 October to 1 December and has 12 internationals across T20Is, ODIs and Tests.</cite> A winning start with a record chase gives Iyer's side early momentum in the shortest format.