Nitish Kumar Reddy's 64-run spell puts him in unwanted T20I company

At Eden Park in Auckland on October 30, 2026, Nitish Kumar Reddy endured a difficult outing with the ball during the fourth T20I against New Zealand, conceding 64 runs across his four overs at an economy rate of 16.00. He claimed just one wicket, that of Glenn Phillips, but the damage was already done by then.

Reddy's figures placed him alongside Yuzvendra Chahal and Varun Chakravarthy in the record books as one of the most expensive Indian bowlers in T20I history. The 16th over proved particularly costly: Phillips smashed 32 runs off it, including four consecutive sixes, equalling the second-most runs conceded by an Indian bowler in a single T20I over. That figure matched what Stuart Binny had conceded in one over against West Indies at Lauderhill in 2016.

New Zealand posted 259/7, their highest T20I total against India. Phillips anchored the innings with a stunning 107 off 49 balls, striking 6 fours and 10 sixes for his third T20I hundred. Michael Bracewell complemented him with a rapid 65 off 25 balls. The two added 115 runs for the fifth wicket. India's other bowlers also struggled: Axar Patel conceded 43 runs in three overs, while Naman Dhir went for 16 in his solitary over. Jacob Duffy struck twice in the opening over, removing both Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, and India were never able to recover, finishing on 172/9 to lose by 87 runs.

How did New Zealand's death-over assault compare to other T20I records against India?

The carnage in the final ten overs at Auckland placed this innings among the most destructive second-half batting performances India have faced in T20I cricket. India conceded 151 runs in overs 11-20 against South Africa at Guwahati in 2022, which stands as the second-highest such figure against them in that phase. England's batters scored 146 runs in the same overs during a match at Southampton in 2026, placing that effort third on the list. New Zealand's assault at Eden Park surpassed both those benchmarks, underlining how completely Phillips and Bracewell dismantled India's bowling in the back half of the innings.

The defeat reduced India's lead in the five-match series, though the visitors had already secured an unassailable advantage heading into the final game.

Where does Reddy's 64-run spell sit in the list of most expensive Indian T20I spells?

Reddy's 64-run haul from four overs at Auckland placed him in joint second position among the most expensive bowling spells by an Indian in T20I cricket. Prasidh Krishna holds the unwanted record at the top of that list, having conceded 68 runs against Australia at Guwahati in 2023. Reddy's 64 now sits alongside two other notable spells: Chahal's 64-run effort against South Africa at Centurion in 2018, and Chakravarthy's 64-run spell against England at Wankhede in 2026. All three share the joint second position on that list.

Most expensive bowling spells by Indian bowlers in T20Is

Bowler

Runs conceded

Overs

Opposition

Venue

Year

Prasidh Krishna

68

4

Australia

Guwahati

2023

Nitish Kumar Reddy

64

4

New Zealand

Auckland

2026

Yuzvendra Chahal

64

4

South Africa

Centurion

2018

Varun Chakravarthy

64

4

England

Wankhede

2026

The 16th-over assault by Phillips, which cost Reddy 32 runs, also drew him level with Binny's 2016 record for the second-most runs conceded by an Indian bowler in a single T20I over. It was a match Reddy would want to forget quickly, even as India prepare for the fifth and final T20I.