"Absolutely slapped them across the face" - Former MI and RCB star's brutal remark after India chase 199 in 13.2 overs in NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik believes India were at their dominant best in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington. The Shreyas Iyer-led side were set a target of 199 and chased it down in just 13.2 overs on Tuesday, October 27.

After being put in to bat first, New Zealand posted 198/3, built on Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 89 from 52 balls, and looked competitive at the halfway stage. However, Abhishek Sharma's blistering 113 off 38 and Vaibhav Suryavanshi's explosive knock at the top meant that India posted 118 in the powerplay itself, making the run chase a cakewalk.

The former wicketkeeper, who also played for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, felt India are light years ahead of the rest in the format.

“What we have seen today is exceptional, to say the least. This is the No. 1-ranked team in the world, showing the rest of the cricketing nations why they are notches ahead of anybody even close to them. We have to understand that New Zealand were the finalists in the World Cup, and India have gone to their territory and absolutely slapped them across the face and said, ‘Hello, don’t even bother competing with us, because we are from a different stratosphere altogether. This is just extraordinary shot-making. India made it look too easy, they were playing like they were playing against U-13 cricketers," Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

India had beaten New Zealand by 96 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in March. The Men in Blue have lost only one out of nine T20Is against the Blackcaps this year.

“By now, we should be used to what he (Abhishek Sharma) can do in a powerplay. He goes after bowlers without any inhibitions whatsoever. He is making it a habit to get us off to great starts. The bowling unit feels like it is game over. When the first over was done, you almost felt like the game was done. India were just absolutely propelling forward like a rocket. By the time the fifth over came, New Zealand were deflated, they were gone, they knew that these guys are from a different planet altogether," Karthik added.

Abhishek reached fifty from 15 balls and his fourth T20I hundred from 35, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours. Suryavanshi, 15, promoted to open in place of Sanju Samson, made 45 from 19. Kyle Jamieson took 2/45, while Samson fell for 18 and Shreyas Iyer for five.

"We should laud how well India batted, but I thought New Zealand bowled poorly" - Dinesh Karthik on the onslaught in NZ vs IND 2026 3rd T20I

New Zealand's defence was compromised after Jacob Duffy’s opening over cost 26 runs, marking it as one of the most expensive first overs of all time. Dinesh Karthik slammed the hosts' bowling, questioning their plans and the support staff's input.

“We should laud how well India batted, but I thought New Zealand bowled poorly. They were getting hit to one side of the ground, the off side. But they kept giving width. They kept believing that they could get a wicket. I don’t know? I don’t think they bowled well, which begs the question of what the New Zealand bowling coach and the support staff were telling them?” Karthik added.

India’s fifty came in just 2.2 overs, and they reached the 100-run mark in five overs. They finished with 40 balls left, marking the second-fastest successful chase of 190 or more in men’s T20Is behind Estonia’s against Cyprus in 2024.

The result gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead with two matches to play. The fourth T20I is in Auckland on Friday, 30 October.

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