Raipur, January 23, 2026 : India continued their commanding run in the T20 series against New Zealand with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory in the second match at Raipur on Friday, sealing a 2–0 advantage in the five-game contest.
Asked to bat first, New Zealand produced a strong batting effort to post a challenging total. The innings was anchored by Mitchell Santner, who remained unbeaten on 47 off 27 balls, providing stability in the middle and late overs. Contributions from Rachin Ravindra, who struck 44, and Tim Seifert, who added a brisk 24, ensured the visitors maintained a healthy scoring rate throughout.
India’s bowlers kept the pressure on despite the flow of runs. Arshdeep Singh picked up key wickets early, while Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy struck at crucial moments to prevent New Zealand from pushing beyond the 210-mark. Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with disciplined spells to contain the damage at the death.
In reply, India’s chase began with an early setback, but the momentum quickly shifted in the hosts’ favour. Ishan Kishan launched a fierce counterattack, hammering 76 off just 32 deliveries, his innings laced with clean boundaries and towering sixes. The left-hander’s aggression neutralised the New Zealand bowling plans and set the tone for a swift pursuit.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav then took complete control, returning to form with an unbeaten 82 from 37 balls. His knock, marked by trademark innovation and placement, kept the asking rate firmly in check. Shivam Dube provided solid support with a quickfire 36 not out, ensuring there were no further hiccups as India surged home with 28 balls to spare.
New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to stem the flow once the Kishan–Suryakumar partnership took shape. Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry managed breakthroughs earlier, but the lack of sustained pressure in the middle overs proved costly.
With this result, India have asserted their dominance in the series, while New Zealand will need a sharp turnaround to stay competitive in the remaining fixtures.
Brief team scores:
New Zealand 208/6 in 20 overs.
India 209/3 in 15.2 overs.
