IND vs NZ 2nd T20I Results

6:16 PM IST The victorious skipper of India Suryakumar Yadav jokingly says that he does not know what Kishan had for lunch. Adds that he has never seen someone bat like that after being 6/2, and then end the Powerplay at around 70. Mentions that they want their batters to play like that and express themselves out there. Tells that he got angry as Kishan did not give him the strike in the Powerplay, but he got to assess the conditions. Says that he has been batting really well in the nets and had a good practice and a break before this game. Credits all his bowlers for the way they pulled things back, as at one point he thought they could be chasing 230-odd runs. Ends by saying that the mood in the camp is really good, and he is enjoying it and wants to keep it in that space.

6:08 PM IST Kishan and SKY power record chase! The big question was whether India could maintain their aggressive approach if Abhishek Sharma failed, and that was answered emphatically in this chase. After both openers were dismissed and India slipped to 6/2, Ishan Kishan continued his fine domestic form and launched a brutal assault on the New Zealand bowlers, bringing up his fifty in just 21 balls and racing to a fiery 76 off 32. SKY initially played second fiddle, but together they added a match-defining 122-run stand that broke the back of the chase. After Kishan’s dismissal, the skipper shifted gears to remain unbeaten on 82 off 37, his first fifty since 2024, while Dube chipped in with three sixes as India sealed their joint-highest successful chase in T20Is.

6:02 PM IST Shivam Dube has a quick chat. He praises the batting from Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, calling it an amazing effort. Dube says Ishan played exactly what the team required, adding that while it was Abhishek Sharma who stepped up in the previous game, today it was Ishan who led the way. Talking about the mood in the camp after losing two early wickets, Dube jokes that he just told the physio to mobilise his back and shares that the atmosphere in the dressing room was pretty calm. Tells that they knew how the wicket was behaving here and says the belief in the group is strong, with every player having the ability to finish games. When asked about his promotion, he replies that it just depends on the situation. Mentions that the move was probably down to the left-right combination, with Ishan and Suryakumar at the crease and Hardik and himself next in. Tells that he is not really sure what a good total is on such surfaces, but the key to defending the totals is to pick early wickets and bowl well in the Powerplay.

5:58 PM IST New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner reflects on the defeat. Asked how much is enough against this Indian side, he cheekily responds that maybe even 300 might not be enough against these guys. Santner says when you come up against a side that bats deep on a good wicket and with the way India came out, it becomes all about trying to squeeze wherever possible. He admits they know that 200 or 210 is unlikely to be enough and that his side needs to go harder with the bat to stay competitive. Santner also points out that some players are yet to come into the side and stresses the importance of keeping the group fresh with the World Cup in mind. He feels games like these are good learning experiences for the team. He further says that it was a very good wicket with a quick outfield, and cheekily adds that he needed to cash in with the bat as he had to bowl later on this wicket.

5:56 PM IST One over that turned the tide! New Zealand will feel they missed a big opportunity after having the hosts where they wanted, with Henry and Duffy striking early. However, once Santner handed the third over to Foulkes, the momentum completely shifted as he was taken for 24 runs, and the Kiwis never really found a way back into the contest. Foulkes could not recover and ended up conceding 67 runs from his three overs. Sodhi did manage to pick up a wicket in the middle, but by then the damage had already been done. A few uncharacteristic dropped chances further summed up their night, showing just how much pressure they were under, and the wet conditions only added to their woes as they suffered a heavy defeat.

5:51 PM IST Signing off! That brings us to the end of this run-fest in Raipur, where India made it 2-0 with a chasing masterclass. Next, we shift our focus to Guwahati and the Barsapara Stadium for the third T20I of this five-match series on Sunday, 25th January, with India looking to seal the series and New Zealand needing a win to stay alive. The game will begin at 1.30 pm GMT (7 pm IST), but as always, you can join us early for all the build-up and coverage. For now, thanks for your company, take care, and we will see you at the next one.