India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I Highlight was a showcase of modern T20 batting and calm recovery under pressure. Chasing 209 in Raipur, India looked momentarily shaken at 6 for 2 inside two overs, but what followed was breathtaking. Ishan Kishan’s fearless 76 off 32 balls flipped the game instantly, while Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 82 off 37 ensured there was no slowing down. New Zealand’s 208 for 6, boosted by late hitting from Mitchell Santner and Mark Chapman, proved nowhere near enough. India cruised home with 28 balls to spare, sealing a commanding 2-0 series lead.
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Blackcaps Pushing High
New Zealand’s innings had momentum, especially toward the end. Mitchell Santner’s 47 not out off 27 balls and Mark Chapman’s contribution gave the total late respectability. At 155 for 5, the Blackcaps were not out of the contest, and the final three overs brought 47 runs. Santner struck four boundaries and a six, exploiting dew and shorter boundaries. While 208 was not overwhelming, it felt competitive given early assistance for bowlers. The push was solid, but the middle-overs slowdown earlier would later prove costly.
155-5 after 16 overs here in Raipur! Santner and Chapman looking to finish strong 💪#INDvNZ | 📸 BCCI pic.twitter.com/OGCx0cDtHi
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 23, 2026
Slower Ball Magic
India’s bowling effort was about control rather than domination. Hardik Pandya’s slower-ball variations delivered a key breakthrough when he removed Daryl Mitchell, disrupting New Zealand’s acceleration plans. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy focused on denying free hits rather than chasing wickets. Harshit Rana’s early overs applied pressure, while Shivam Dube’s cutters limited scoring lanes. India conceded runs, but they kept errors minimal, forcing New Zealand to earn every boundary rather than gifting momentum.
Slower ball doing the trick 🪄
Hardik Pandya with his 1⃣st wicket of the night 👌
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/8G8p1tq1RC#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/CwFMT2XXQT
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2026
Kuldeep Yadav 2 Wickets Were Needed
Kuldeep Yadav’s spell changed the tone of the middle overs. His dismissal of Rachin Ravindra, who had blasted 44 off 26 balls, was vital just as New Zealand threatened to break free. Kuldeep’s wrong’un forced Ravindra into a mistimed stroke, halting the surge. He finished with 2 for 35, quietly effective rather than dramatic. These wickets ensured New Zealand never truly ran away, keeping the target just within India’s explosive chasing range.
Innings Break!
2⃣ wickets for Kuldeep Yadav as #TeamIndia are set a target of 209 runs 🎯
The run chase is coming up ⌛
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/8G8p1tq1RC#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/UnJQhDJKtN
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2026
Ishan Kishan Done it Once Again
What followed was one of the most audacious counterattacks in recent T20I memory. Walking in at 6 for 2, Ishan Kishan immediately went on the offensive. He smashed 76 off 32 balls, reaching his fifty in just 21 deliveries, the fastest by an Indian against New Zealand. Kishan struck 56 runs in the powerplay alone, dismantling Zak Foulkes, who conceded 67 in three overs. Kishan’s strike rate, boundary frequency, and fearlessness completely erased New Zealand’s early advantage.
Putting on a show and HOW 🍿
Ishan Kishan with his 7⃣th FIFTY in T20Is 👏#TeamIndia 75/2 after 6 overs.
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/8G8p1tq1RC
#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @ishankishan51 pic.twitter.com/LffNygvhdn
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2026
7 Wickets Victory!
Once Kishan shifted the momentum, the contest became one-sided. India chased down 209 in just 15.2 overs, their joint-highest successful T20I chase. Suryakumar Yadav ensured there was no collapse after Kishan’s dismissal, finding gaps effortlessly and clearing boundaries when required. The seven-wicket win reflected not just power, but clarity. New Zealand’s bowlers had no space to recover, and the required rate plummeted with every over.
As breathtaking as it can get 💥#TeamIndia sail over the finish line with 7⃣ wickets to spare in Raipur ⛵️
With that, they lead the series 2⃣-0⃣ 👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/8G8p1tq1RC#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/UXOo96Qbup
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2026
Ishan Kishan, the Key to the Game
The player of the match is Ishan Kishan: “I was focussing on what I have to do today and just keeping myself in a good headspace. Sometimes you understand you’re batting well and just try and watch the ball and stay in a good head space. I was looking to score as many runs as we could in the powerplay because chasing 208 you have to maximise the powerplay.”
Kishan was rightly named Player of the Match. His explanation was simple and telling. He spoke about staying in a good headspace, trusting his shots, and maximising the powerplay because “chasing 208 you have to.” His innings allowed Suryakumar Yadav to settle before accelerating. SKY’s unbeaten 82 off 37 balls ended a run of 23 T20I innings without a fifty and showed his value in high-pressure chases. Together, they formed a partnership that removed all doubt.
India vs New Zealand Match Result：Scorecard
| India | New Zealand |
| 209/3 | 208/6 |
2-0 Down, New Zealand?
New Zealand now find themselves 2-0 down, and the concerns are mounting. Their starts have been aggressive, but middle-overs control remains elusive. Bowling under dew has exposed depth issues, and containment has been inconsistent. Mitchell Santner has led with the bat, but support has not been enough. For India, everything is clicking, depth, intent, and adaptability. Unless New Zealand find answers quickly, this series risks slipping away faster than expected.
