IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I, 2025-26: Kishan-SKY fireworks light up the Raipur as India dominate to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 208/6 (Mitchell Santner 47*, Kuldeep Yadav 2/35) lost to India 209/3 (Suryakumar Yadav 82*, Jacob Duffy 1/38) by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan (76 off 32)
India put on a breathtaking batting display in the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur, chasing down a massive 209-run target with absolute authority. The chase was powered by Ishan Kishan’s explosive 76 off 32 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s return to form with an unbeaten 82, marking his first T20I fifty in well over a year.
After New Zealand posted 208-6 thanks to important contributions from Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra, India’s top order overcame early hiccups and then dominated the chase, completing the fastest 200+ run chase in T20Is to take a commanding 2‑0 lead in the five‑match series.
Talking Point: Suryakumar Yadav’s return to runs is the biggest positive for India
One of the biggest positives for India from this game has been Suryakumar Yadav’s return to runs after a long lean patch in T20Is. The India captain had gone many innings without scoring a fifty, with his last half-century coming way back in late 2024, and struggled for big scores through most of 2025 despite regular starts. In this series, though, he has begun to look much more fluent and confident at the crease, turning starts into more meaningful contributions, something that’s crucial with the T20 World Cup approaching. For a leader who not only needs to score but also set the tempo for the batting unit, this improved rhythm is a significant morale booster for both him personally and for the team.
Read More: IND vs NZ 2025-26, 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma’s 84(35) key differentiator; India go 1-0 up
Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra power New Zealand to 208-6
New Zealand rode on an explosive start to post a challenging 208-6 in 20 overs after India captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl first. Devon Conway set the tone immediately by smashing 18 runs in the opening over, while Tim Seifert kept the momentum going as the Blackcaps raced to 43 inside three overs. However, India clawed back with quick strikes: Harshit Rana removed Conway for 19, and Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Seifert for 24 to halt the early charge. Just when India looked to tighten things up, Rachin Ravindra counter-attacked brilliantly, hammering 44 off 26 with clean six-hitting before Kuldeep Yadav denied him a half-century.
The middle overs saw wickets falling at regular intervals as Kuldeep picked up two, including Glenn Phillips, while Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya chipped in with one each to prevent New Zealand from running away with the game. But Mitchell Santner provided the late flourish, finishing unbeaten on a quickfire 47 to push the total past 200.
SKY leads from the front, Ishan provides the spark as India seal easy win with 28 balls to spare
After early setbacks saw Sanju Samson (6) and Abhishek Sharma (0) fall in the first two overs, India captain Suryakumar Yadav returned to form with an unbeaten 82, his first T20I fifty for India after 463 days. Ishan Kishan ignited the chase with a blistering 76 off 32 balls, while Shivam Dube provided crucial support to keep the momentum going. Their partnership guided India to a commanding victory, completing the fastest-ever 200+ run chase in T20Is and sealing a seven-wicket win with 28 balls to spare. For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck, and Ish Sodhi later claimed Ishan Kishan’s wicket as they tried to make inroads in the chase.
Read More: Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026, which are the areas India need to address in T20I series against NZ?
Statistical Highlights from India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I, 2026
- Varun Chakravarthy, with 56 scalps, is the leading wicket-taker for India since the end of 2024 T20 World Cup.
- New Zealand scored 64-2 in powerplay (overs 1-6). This is their best powerplay score in the T20Is they have played in India.
- Prior to this game, Arshdeep Singh maintained an economy of 7.72 in powerplay (overs 1-6). But he conceded 36 runs in 2 powerplay overs in Raipur, at an ER of 18.
- Rachin Ravindra registered his highest T20I score (44) in India.
- Mitchell Santner registered the highest individual score (47*) for a no. 7 batter for NZ against India in T20Is.
- Mitchell Santner & Zak Foulkes brought up the highest seventh wicket stand (47*) for NZ against India in T20Is.
- Arshdeep Singh conceded 53 runs in 4 overs against New Zealand in Raipur today. These are the third-worst figures in his celebrated T20I career.
- Ishan Kishan raced away to the fastest fifty for India against New Zealand in T20Is (21 balls). He broke Abhishek Sharma’s record (22 balls) which was witnessed in Nagpur on 21 January, 2026.
- Ishan Kishan & Suryakumar Yadav added 122 runs off 48 balls for the third wicket, at a run rate of 15.25. This is India’s fourth fastest stand for any wicket in T20Is.
What’s next
With India winning the second T20I in Raipur and taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, the focus now shifts to the third T20I to be played in Guwahati on January 25 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, where Suryakumar Yadav’s side will have a golden opportunity to seal the series with an unassailable 3-0 advantage. Riding high on confidence after back-to-back wins, India will look to wrap up the contest early, while New Zealand will be under pressure to bounce back and keep the series alive.
Top Twitter Reactions from IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I, Raipur, 2025-26
Surya Kumar Yadav back in form. Team India chasing down 200 target like child’s play.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 23, 2026
That was some run chase! Ishan Kishan and SKY batted as if on steroids. Vital knocks for them individually and also for the team leading into the World Cup.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 23, 2026
6/2 in a 200+ chase, game won with 28 balls to spare 🤯 Well played @ishankishan51 and @surya_14kumar 👏👏 What a statement by Team India 💪#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Yq1F497cWR
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 23, 2026
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