Glenn Phillips scored 107 off 49 balls with 10 sixes as New Zealand compiled 259/7 and bowled India out for 172/9 at Eden Park, narrowing the series advantage to 3-1. This is India’s second-biggest loss in Twenty20 Internationals.
New Zealand dominated in Auckland, giving India their second-largest T20I loss. (Source: BCCI/X) On October 30, 2026, India lost by 87 runs in the fourth game of a five-game series against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, their second-largest loss in T20 Internationals. India’s series lead was reduced from 3-0 to 3-1 as a consequence, giving the last match something to strive for.
With 35 runs off 33 balls, Tilak Varma was India’s top run scorer, but even that knock demonstrated how far the rest of the lineup fell short of what was needed. New Zealand took full advantage of batting conditions to post a total that proved well beyond India’s reach; therefore, the toss choice to bowl first did not work out.
This outcome ranks second on the list of India’s biggest T20I losses by runs thanks to the 87-run deficit at Eden Park. The worst is still a 125-run defeat to England in Nottingham earlier in 2026, which held the mark before this Auckland game ever came near to equal it. In 2026, South Africa defeated India by 76 runs in Ahmedabad, which was India’s fourth-largest T20I loss by runs.
The pivotal moment of the evening was Phillips’ 107 off 49 balls. His 10 sixes helped the BlackCaps reach a score of 259/7, one of the best totals ever recorded against India in T20 internationals, which was always going to put India to the test. The Mitchell Santner-led team dominated both innings at Eden Park, as evidenced by the 87-run victory margin.
India never posed a real danger to the chase at any point. The fifth and final Twenty20 International will determine whether New Zealand can tie the match or India wins the series, which is now 3-1 in India’s favour. The hosts’ triumph also showed that Eden Park’s conditions may significantly favour a team that bats first with purpose; India will take this lesson into the final.
