India defeats New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20I match.

In an electrifying match, India emerged victorious against New Zealand in the opening T20I of the five-match series on Wednesday. The star of the game was Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a brutal 35-ball 84, leaving the opponents stunned and the crowd on their feet. But he wasn't the only one who contributed to the win; Rinku Singh, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya also played crucial roles in India's massive total of 238 for seven after being asked to bat first. New Zealand, on the other hand, had a tough time chasing the target and could only manage 190 for seven in their 20 overs. Glenn Phillips put up a valiant effort with his 40-ball 78, while Mark Chapman also contributed with a solid 39. However, it wasn't enough to match India's impressive score. The Indian bowlers were on fire, with Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube each claiming two wickets, while Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel also made important contributions. It was a well-rounded effort from the Indian team that led to their victory. In the end, the final scores were India with 238 for seven and New Zealand with 190 for seven, making it a 48-run win for the home team. It was a thrilling game that kept the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end. Congratulations to India on their well-deserved victory, and let's hope for more exciting matches in the remaining four games of the series. This is PTI reporting for Orissa POST, the number one English daily in Odisha.