India maintained their dominant form in the T20 series against New Ze
India maintained their dominant form in the T20 series against New Zealand with an emphatic win in the 2nd T20 International played at Raipur, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
π₯ Match Summary
- Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
- Date: 23 January 2026
- Result: India won by 7 wickets (with 28 balls to spare)
- NZ 1st Innings: 208/6 (20 overs)
- IND 2nd Innings: 209/3 (15.2 overs)
- Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan
π How the Game Played Out
New Zealand posted a competitive total of 208/6, thanks largely to contributions from Mitchell Santner (47)* and Rachin Ravindra (44). Their innings was built with steady hitting, and New Zealand hit 200+ in a T20I without a single individual fifty β a rare feat.
Chasing a steep target, India lost early wickets at 6/2, but the game turned with a spectacular 121-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan struck an aggressive 76 off 32 balls, including powerful boundaries and sixes, and SKY (Suryakumar) remained 82 off 37 balls* to seal a fast and convincing win.
π Standout Performances
β Ishan Kishan β 76 (32) β explosive return to form, earned Player of the Match
β Suryakumar Yadav β 82* (37) β anchor of the chase with innovative strokeplay
π― Kuldeep Yadav β key bowling support with crucial wickets
πͺ Shivam Dube β quickfire contribution to steady the chase
π§ Key Takeaways
- Indiaβs batting depth showed up: After early setbacks, the top order rebuilt brilliantly under pressure.
- Historic chase pace: India chased down a 200+ target in just 15.2 overs, one of the fastest big chases in T20Is this year.
- Series momentum with India: With the series at 2-0, India now hold the upper hand as they look to extend their lead in the next T20Is.
π Looking Ahead
The Indian bowling and batting units both showed balance and firepower, making them strong contenders not just in this series but with an eye on upcoming T20 tournaments including the T20 World Cu
