Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) fast bowler Mayank Yadav delivered an important breakthrough for India in the opening T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, October 22. The young pacer dismissed Tim Seifert with the help of wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, ending New Zealand’s promising start in the five-match T20I series.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first. New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Seifert came out aggressively, putting together 46 runs without losing a wicket in the first four overs. However, Mayank Yadav, introduced as the first change, quickly shifted the momentum in India’s favour.
Bowling the fifth over, Mayank struck on the final delivery to break the opening partnership. The 141 kph short-of-a-length delivery was bowled wide outside off stump, tempting Seifert into an aggressive shot. The New Zealand batter attempted to clear the covers but could only manage an outside edge, which Samson collected comfortably behind the stumps. Seifert departed for 24 off 17 balls, giving India the breakthrough they desperately needed after an expensive start.
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The wicket was a memorable moment for Mayank, as he claimed his first international wicket in his first over on his maiden tour of New Zealand. While experienced pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh had conceded runs, the young speedster provided India with the crucial early success.
The first breakthrough is here, courtesy of Mayank Yadav! 👊
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— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) October 22, 2026
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson will be eager to make the most of his opportunity at the top of India’s batting order. Preferred over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the wicketkeeper-batter enters the series after scoring two half-centuries against the West Indies in the previous T20I series.
However, Samson has struggled during his previous T20I appearances in New Zealand, managing only 10 runs across two innings. With five matches ahead, he will be keen to improve that record and deliver consistent performances.
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Samson has scored 703 runs in 25 innings this year at an average of 29.29 and an impressive strike rate of 179.33, including seven half-centuries. Those numbers underline his attacking potential, but consistency will be crucial as he looks to strengthen his position in India’s T20I setup. A productive series against New Zealand could help Samson build momentum and reinforce his credentials as a top-order option for India.
