India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I: Tilak Varma holds nerve as India clinch four-wicket win, take 2-0 lead in series

IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: India overcame Mitchell Santner's four-wicket burst to beat New Zealand by 4 wickets at Hagley Oval. Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 sealed a chase of 181 with one ball left, giving India a 2-0 series lead.

Tilak Varma is taking India close. (ANI Pic Service)

India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I: India pulled off a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. They have now taken a 2-0 lead in the series. Put in to bat, New Zealand slipped to 41/3 before Glenn Phillips (70 off 43) and Bevon Jacobs (58 off 46) stitched together a 116-run partnership to lift the hosts to 180/5. Arshdeep Singh claimed two wickets for India....Read More

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• 24 Oct 2026, 04:12:43 PM IST

  INDIA WIN THE MATCH

  Good length at the middle and leg. Whipped away towards square leg for a couple of runs. India have won the game!!!!! They have taken a 2-0 lead. This was great effort from the team. The chips were down, but Varma did not surrender. Brilliant finish!!!

• 24 Oct 2026, 04:09:53 PM IST

  Half-century for Tilak Varma

  WHAT A KNOCK THIS HAS BEEN!!!! He really thrives under pressure. He took his time, played the situation and changed gears at the right moment. India now need four runs off three balls.

• 24 Oct 2026, 04:05:36 PM IST

  Brilliant batting by Tilak Varma

  Three boundaries and then a six to end the over. 18 runs off that over and India now need just 11 runs off the final six balls. What brilliant batting under pressure!!!! Absolute brilliance from the left-hander. A dramatic turn-around from the visitors. They are well on-course to take a 2-0 lead in this series.

• 24 Oct 2026, 04:00:42 PM IST

  India come roaring back

  Huge over for India. Great temperament from Tilak Varma. India get 17 runs off the 18th over. They now need 29 runs off 12 balls. With Varma and Reddy in full flow this looks very much achievable.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:56:38 PM IST

  Can India a do it?

  Three overs left and India need 46 to win. The biggest factor could be Matt Henry's absence. Reports suggest that he will not be avaible to bowl his final two overs. Nitish Reddy and Tilak Varma can both clear the ropes and they have a great chance from here on. This could be a sensational win for India if they get over the line.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:53:28 PM IST

  New Zealand looking to take pace off the ball

  Even the pacers of New Zealand are looking to bowl slower. Lockier Ferguson is using a lot of cutters and slowers here. India still need 50 runs to in from 21 balls. The way the pitch has gone it is going to be difficult for the visitors.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:42:38 PM IST

  THERE IS THE WICKET!!!!

  MICTHELL SANTNER YOU BEAUTY!!!!! He gets his fourth wicket!!!! He slows up the delivery at the off stump. Dhir looks to go for the drive and is beaten by the flight and lack of pace. The ball goes in the air and straight into the hands of the man at cover. India lose their sixth and New Zealand have got the wicket of the batter, who was looking really dangerous.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:37:56 PM IST

  100 up for India!!!

  Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma are looking to keep India in the hunt. This will be a great test for the duo, especially Dhir. He has the chance of sealing the spot in the middle order as a finisher. This game can go down the wire from here. Dhir is looking great in the middle.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:32:14 PM IST

  DROPPED!!!!

  Full ball at the off stump. Dhir looks to go inside out but ends up playing it towards point. The ball was at a comfortable height and should have been an easy take. But Jacobs drops it and Dhir survives. Will New Zealand pay the price for this mistake?

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:23:17 PM IST

  WHAT A CATCH!!!!!

  AXAR PATEL GOES!!!! WHAT AN EFFORT!!!! Hit in the air towards long-on. Finn Allen in the deep takes the catch, goes outside and then throws it back while being airborne, Daryl Mitchell completes the catch. India lose another. There will be a check for the catch and the replays show that it was cleanly taken. India are left in tatters here.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:20:48 PM IST

  HUGE WICKET!!!!

  BOWLED HIM!!!!! Shreyas Iyer departs. Santner picks up a big wicket. Classing left arm spin bowling from the Kiwi Skipper. Tossed up delivery at the middle and leg. The ball just did not arrive for the shot Shreyas Iyer attempted. He went across the line and was completely beaten by the flight. The ball crashes into the middle and leg stick and that is the end of stay for Iyer.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:16:16 PM IST

  Halfway through the chase

  That is the end of the 10th over in the Indian innings. That was a good over for the visitors. India have sent in Axar Patel to inject some momentum into the innings and he hit a wonderful six in that over. Indi are now 66/3 after 10 overs. They now need 115 runs to win the game off 60 balls.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:10:56 PM IST

  Abhishek Sharma departs

  IN THE AIR!!!! That has gone hiiiiigh up in the air!!!! Nathan Smith stays composed and takes a brilliant catch. Abhishek Sharma departs and India are struggling here at 56/3.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:09:06 PM IST

  Santner into the attack

  Mitchell Santner, the skipper of New Zealand team comes into the attack. New Zealand is trying to take pace off the delivery. They are not providing the pace for the batters to take advantage and get going. This will be a big test for the Indian middle order.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:07:24 PM IST

  The runs have dried up!

  Michael Bracewell is not giving anything away, and scoring runs has become difficult altogether. Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma are knocking it around, but something needs to give.

  India 54/2 in 8 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 03:01:39 PM IST

  Sooryavanshi disappoints!

  Oh no, it's not a happy return to India's playing XI for Sooryavanshi. The youngster lasts just eight balls in the middle, scoring four. Nathan Smith with the second wicket for New Zealand. It was a hard length delivery, and Sooryavanshi didn't get any sort of timing, as he went for a big booming drive. Daryl Mitchell completes the simple catch.

  India 44/2 in 6.2 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:57:45 PM IST

  Sooryavanshi survives!

  Michael Bracewell beat the youngster in flight, and it seemed like a simple catch for Bevon Jacobs at backward point. However, he lost the ball in the lights and the 15-year-old lives to fight another day. Mitchell Santner is not pleased and rightly so.

  Bracewell gives away just three runs in the final over of the powerplay. New Zealand close it out nicely.

  India 44/1 in 6 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:55:16 PM IST

  What an ovation for Sooryavanshi

  As soon as Sooryavanshi started to walk out, the crowd in Christchurch was on its feet, and he received a standing ovation. Imagine having that sort of impact when you are just 15 years old? As we speak, the youngster has gotten off the mark.

  India 41/1 in 5 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:53:09 PM IST

  WICKET! Samson departs!

  Jacob Duffy bowls a back-of-the-hand slower delivery, and Sanju Samson ends up mistiming the ball in search of a big shot. Glenn Phillips doesn't need a second invitation to take the catch. First wicket falls for India. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi now joins Abhishek in the middle.

  India 40/1 in 4.4 overs

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:47:11 PM IST

  Lockie Ferguson, that's poor bowling

  Just like the series opener, Lockie Ferguson is easing all sorts of pressure. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are having no trouble in picking up boundaries off him. To make matters worse, he dishes out a no-ball but luckily for New Zealand, India are not able to make the most of it.

  India 35/0 in 3.4 overs

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:45:18 PM IST

  SIX! Sanju just about survives!

  Lockie Ferguson is greeted with a maximum. Sanju Samson goes aerial towards long-on, where Mitchell Santner was waiting. The Kiwi captain gets his hands to the delivery, but he ends up going over the boundary. Another six added to India's total, and the Men in Blue are now off to a good start.

  India 28/0 in 3.1 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:42:34 PM IST

  SIX! Terrific shot!

  A thing of beauty from Abhishek Sharma. That's some shot. Abhishek dances down the track and makes some room to free his hands. The natural swing of the bat takes it over the cover area for a maximum. India are now up and running in the chase.

  With this six, Abhishek also brings up 1000 T20Is in 2026. Some form he has been in this year.

  India 22/0 in 2.5 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:39:41 PM IST

  FOUR! Samson says enough is enough!

  Sanju Samson makes some room to hit the ball straight down the ground. His first boundary of the game comes off Matt Henry's bowling.

  India 15/0 in 2.1 overs

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:36:26 PM IST

  Duffy what have you done?

  Jacob Duffy bowled a good bouncer and Abhishek Sharma holed out in the deep. But it turns out to be a no-ball. Costly costly error from the Kiwi pacer. To rub salt onto the wounds, Abhishek hits the free hit for a boundary. The last delivery of the over also goes for a four. What started off well, ends in complete horror for Duffy.

  India 11/0 in 2 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:29:30 PM IST

  Terrific start for Henry!

  Wonderful line and length from Matt Henry. Sanju Samson gives himself some room but misses it altogether. Both Henry and Samson played together at CSK this year, and both players know a lot of things about each other. Maiden to start off with.

  India 0/0

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:27:13 PM IST

  The action is underway!

  Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are in the middle. Matt Henry has the ball in his hand. Let the chase begin. Dot ball to start with! Proper, good length delivery, and Samson just plays it straight.

  India 0/0 in 0.1 overs

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:22:00 PM IST

  Abhishek and Sanju to open

  Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might be in the playing XI but he won't be opening the batting as Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson would get the first crack at the cherry. If these two get going, they will make mince meat of this target and it could be over in no time. Stay tuned for India's batting innings.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:11:46 PM IST

  Solid final over!

  Prince Yadav, take a bow! He nailed the yorkers in the final over, giving away just nine runs, and New Zealand finished at 180/5 in the allotted 20 overs. What a day in the office for Prince, giving away just 30 runs in his quota of four overs. He also dismissed Finn Allen. The figures would have been better had Bracewell not got a boundary on the final delivery.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:06:27 PM IST

  SIX! WOW Bracewell!

  Nitish Kumar Reddy closes the 19th delivery with a long-hop on the pads and Michael Bracewell doesn't need a second invitation to deposit it well into the stands.

  New Zealand 171/5 in 19 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:05:11 PM IST

  Nitish strikes!

  Bevon Jacobs, who began the 19th over with a maximum, finally perishes. Nitish Kumar Reddy with the crucial wicket for India. The right-hander departs after scoring 58 of 46 deliveries. New Zealand lose their fifth and there are two new batters in the middle.

  New Zealand 165/5 in 18.5 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 02:00:56 PM IST

  WICKET! Arshdeep strikes!

  The wide yorker ploy works for India. Arshdeep Singh takes his second of the game, and Phillips walks back after scoring 70 off 43 balls. Phillips went aerial, but the ball went straight into the hands of Naman Dhir, who was waiting in the deep. The 116-run stand for the fourth wicket between Phillips and Bevon Jacobs comes to an end.

  New Zealand 157/4 in 18 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:58:08 PM IST

  FOUR!

  Arshdeep goes for a yorker, but it ends up being a low full-toss, and Phillips hammers it straight down the ground for a boundary. The right-hander then runs back for a quick two. India are rattled in the field as soon as the onslaught has begun.

  New Zealand 154/3 in 17.4 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:53:52 PM IST

  50 for Jacobs!

  The wheels are coming off for India now. Prince Yadav bowls a wide yorker, but great presence of mind from Jacobs. He just glides the ball away for a boundary and, with this, brings up his half-century.

  New Zealand 145/3 in 16.5 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:50:55 PM IST

  SLOT delivery and SIX!

  Glenn Phillips is the man on the charge! Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls it into the slot, and the right-hander launches the ball into the stands. A picture-perfect frame as Phillips just goes aerial over covers! Back-to-back poor games for Bhuvi. This time, he gives away 50 runs in his quota of four overs.

  Bevon Jacobs then begins the 17th over in style, hitting a boundary of the opening delivery of Prince Yadav.

  New Zealand 137/3 in 16.1 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:45:38 PM IST

  FIFTY for Phillips!

  Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls a wide yorker and Phillips just about manages to reach the delivery. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ends up misfielding and the ball goes to the boundary fence for a four. Phillips hits back-to-back fifties.

  To make the matters worse, it was a no-ball as well. But luckily for India, Phillips just gets a single off the free hit.

  New Zealand 121/3 in 15.1 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:43:44 PM IST

  Axar's spell is over!

  Axar gave away 11 runs off his fourth and final over and he ends his quota of four overs, giving away just 28 runs. The spinner brought all of his experience into play to keep Phillips and Jacobs in check.

  New Zealand 115/3 in 15 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:40:35 PM IST

  MAXIMUM!

  Phillips is just now showing off. Strong forearms into play. Phillips just times the delivery that was bowled at yorker length and the ball is muscled away for a maximum. Phillips moves onto 44.

  New Zealand 110/3 in 14.1 overs

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:37:59 PM IST

  FOUR! 100 comes up!

  Nitish Kumar Reddy bowls a short long-hop and Jacob just pulls it away for a much-needed boundary. And with this, the 100 also comes up for New Zealand

  Kiwis 102/3 in 13.4 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:36:27 PM IST

  Jacobs struggling!

  While Glenn Phillips is getting fours and sixes every now and then, it's Bevon Jacobs who's struggling in the middle. He is on 28 off 29 deliveries and his low strike rate is really pegging New Zealand back. The need of the hour is for both batters to go hell for leather now, considering the hosts have seven wickets in hand.

  New Zealand 97/3 in 13.2 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:32:19 PM IST

  SIX! SHOT!!

  Arshdeep Singh bowls it onto the pads of Phillips and the batter hammers the ball well into the stands for his second six of the game. What bat speed from Phillips. New Zealand are finally getting a move on as Arshdeep Singh has already given 11 runs in four deliveries of the 13th over.

  New Zealand 92/3

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:27:41 PM IST

  SIX! Phillips gets the height!

  Glenn Phillips decides enough is enough and he launches the ball towards long-on and the ball just about lands over the head of Arshdeep Singh for a maximum. New Zealand are getting a move on and it's about time.

  New Zealand 80/3 in 11.3 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:25:16 PM IST

  DROPPED! Shreyas puts down a sitter!

  There's just no end to India's catching woes in 2026. This is the 59th chance that has gone down in T20Is for the Men in Blue. And this time the guilty party is none other than skipper Shreyas Iyer.

  Bevon Jacobs hit it straight at Iyer, who was stationed at mid-off, but the skipper ended up making a hash of it. Lucky reprieve for Jacobs. Two deliveries later, the right-hander also gets a lucky boundary.

  New Zealand 72/3 in 10.5 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:19:00 PM IST

  DRINKS BREAK!

  New Zealand need to do a lot of thinking in the drinks break as they are currently struggling at 66/3 at the halfway mark. Axar Patel has kept it tidy, giving away just nine runs in his two overs. Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs are finding it tough to rotate the strike as well.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:14:55 PM IST

  FOUR!

  Every Indian bowler has had a game plan for the Kiwi batters today. Even Nitish Kumar Reddy is bowling to his field, and the two batters are finding it difficult to get him away. However, Jacobs finally capitalises on a genuine half-volley and hammers the ball past the mid-on fielder for a boundary. Welcome four.

  New Zealand 60/3 in 8.4 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:11:51 PM IST

  Runs hard to come by!

  Axar Patel follows in the footsteps of Naman Dhir and doesn't dish out a single loose delivery. Just the four runs of the eighth over. The boundaries have dried up for New Zealand here.

  New Zealand 54/3

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:08:53 PM IST

  Naman Dhir keeps it tidy!

  The off-spinner replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the attack. And he kept it tidy in the seventh over, giving away just seven runs. 50 runs have also come up for New Zealand. However, the hosts are well behind the eight ball in Christchurch.

  New Zealand 50/3 in 7 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:05:30 PM IST

  End of the powerplay!

  Prince Yadav just gives away three runs in his opening over, and with this, the powerplay comes to an end. India are in the driver's seat after taking three wickets in the first six overs of the game. Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs are the two batters in the middle for the Kiwis.

  New Zealand 43/3

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:02:55 PM IST

  Prince Yadav strikes!

  Prince Yadav makes an immediate impact after being called into the attack. Finn Allen walks back after scoring 16 runs off 14 balls. The batter shuffled across to play the paddle sweep, but missed it altogether, and the ball clattered into the leg stump, much to the jubilation of the entire Indian camp.

  New Zealand 42/3 in 5.2 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 01:00:34 PM IST

  Prince Yadav into the attack!

  India's first change bowler is Prince Yadav, and he replaces Arshdeep Singh. The seamer starts off with a wide delivery. Prince has replaced Mayank in the playing XI for the 2nd T20I in Christchurch.

  New Zealand 41/2 in 5 overs.

• 24 Oct 2026, 12:59:16 PM IST

  17 runs of Bhuvi's over!

  Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips finally force the pace in the second last over of the powerplay, taking Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 17 runs, and, finally, New Zealand's run rate touches eight for the first time in the game.

  New Zealand 40/2 in 5 overs.