IND vs NZ T20: Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 82 and Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting help India seal an easy win in Raipur
New Delhi: India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets in the second T20 International on January 23, 2026, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. With this win, India took a 2–0 lead in the five-match T20I series and moved closer to sealing the series.
While chasing a stiff target of 209 runs, India played with confidence and intent. The squad scored 209 for 3 in just 15.2 overs, completing the match with 28 balls remaining. The outcome clearly demonstrated India’s aggressive approach when pursuing a large total.
Toss helps India
Earlier, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and decided to field first. He made the decision after evaluating the pitch and the forecasted dew, which is frequently beneficial while batting in the second innings.
As the match unfolded, the decision worked well in India’s favour and set the tone for the win.
New Zealand’s Innings
Batting first, New Zealand scored 208 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs. The visitors batted positively but failed to convert their starts into big scores.
canchored the innings and finished undefeated on 47 from 27 balls. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra scored 44 off 26 balls, putting the Indian bowlers under strain in the middle overs. Other batters contributed, but none reached a half-century.
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Kuldeep Yadav was a standout bowler for India. He took 2 wickets for 35 runs and broke crucial partnerships. Although New Zealand crossed 200, the total still looked chaseable.
Early Trouble for India
India’s chase did not start smoothly. First, Sanju Samson was dismissed for 6 runs. Soon after, Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck, leaving India two wickets down early in the innings.
At that point, New Zealand looked for a comeback. However, India responded calmly.
Ishan Kishan Changes Momentum
Ishan Kishan then shifted the game in India’s favour with a fearless counterattack. He smashed 76 runs off just 32 balls, hitting 11 fours and 4 sixes.
From the start, Kishan attacked the bowlers and kept the required run rate under control. His aggressive batting pushed New Zealand on the back foot.
Captain Leads from Front
At the other end, Suryakumar Yadav played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 82 runs off 37 balls.
He hit 9 fours and 4 sixes and scored at a strike rate of over 200, completely taking charge against the New Zealand bowlers. More importantly, this innings meant a lot for him personally. It was his first T20I half-century in more than a year, and with this knock, he finally ended a long stretch of 24 innings without a fifty. As a result, the innings gave him a big confidence boost ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Key Partnership
At the same time, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan stitched together a crucial 122-run partnership, which turned the match firmly in India’s favour. Together, they mixed smart shot selection with powerful hitting and kept the chase completely under control. Because of their calm yet aggressive approach, New Zealand never really found a way back into the game.
After Ishan Kishan was dismissed, Shivam Dube stepped in and finished the job smoothly. He played a quick and effective knock of 36 runs off 18 balls, ensuring there was no pressure in the final moments. Thanks to his composed finishing, India crossed the target comfortably and sealed the win without any late drama.
Fast Chase Completed
India completed the chase at 209 for 3 in 15.2 overs, registering one of their fastest successful chases of a 200-plus target in T20 International cricket. The ease of the chase highlighted India’s batting strength.
Records and Highlights
This win ranks among India’s highest successful T20I chases. It is also one of the fastest 200-plus chases by a full-member team. Suryakumar Yadav also struck a T20I fifty after a 468-day wait, adding to the match’s importance.
On-Field Moment Described
During the match, a brief exchange between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan drew notice. Later, the Indian captain emphasised that it was about staying focused and aggressive, and that there was no disagreement between the players.
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Series Situation
With this result, India now lead the five-match T20I series 2–0. The dominant win has boosted the team’s confidence and placed them in a strong position going forward.
