India thrashed New Zealand by 7 wickets in a dominant display in the 2nd T20I
India crushed New Zealand by 7 wickets in a dominant display during the 2nd T20I of the New Zealand tour of India 2026 series, chasing down a challenging target of 209 runs in just 15.2 overs at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on January 23, 2026. With this emphatic victory, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, which serves as key preparation ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
New Zealand, opting to bat first after India won the toss and elected to field, posted a competitive 208/6 in their 20 overs. Mitchell Santner top-scored with an unbeaten 47 off 27 balls, while Rachin Ravindra contributed a brisk 44 off 26. Other notable contributions came from Tim Seifert (24 off 13) and Devon Conway (19 off 9), but regular wickets prevented a bigger total. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2/35, while Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Shivam Dube each claimed one wicket.
In reply, India got off to a shaky start, losing Sanju Samson (6) and Abhishek Sharma (0) early. However, Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav turned the game around with a explosive third-wicket partnership. Kishan blasted 76 off 32 balls (11 fours, 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 237.50 before falling to Ish Sodhi. Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 82 off 37 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes), showcasing his trademark flair and composure. Shivam Dube provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 36 off 18 balls, sealing the chase with plenty to spare.
The Indian innings featured a blistering powerplay of 75/2 and maintained a high run rate throughout, highlighting the depth and aggression in their batting lineup. This chase of 209 in 15.2 overs marked one of the fastest successful pursuits of a 200-plus total by a full-member team in T20I history.
India's bowlers set the platform by restricting New Zealand despite a high-scoring venue, and the batters executed the chase clinically. The series now moves forward, with India in a strong position to continue their momentum.
New Zealand, opting to bat first after India won the toss and elected to field, posted a competitive 208/6 in their 20 overs. Mitchell Santner top-scored with an unbeaten 47 off 27 balls, while Rachin Ravindra contributed a brisk 44 off 26. Other notable contributions came from Tim Seifert (24 off 13) and Devon Conway (19 off 9), but regular wickets prevented a bigger total. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2/35, while Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Shivam Dube each claimed one wicket.
In reply, India got off to a shaky start, losing Sanju Samson (6) and Abhishek Sharma (0) early. However, Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav turned the game around with a explosive third-wicket partnership. Kishan blasted 76 off 32 balls (11 fours, 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 237.50 before falling to Ish Sodhi. Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 82 off 37 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes), showcasing his trademark flair and composure. Shivam Dube provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 36 off 18 balls, sealing the chase with plenty to spare.
The Indian innings featured a blistering powerplay of 75/2 and maintained a high run rate throughout, highlighting the depth and aggression in their batting lineup. This chase of 209 in 15.2 overs marked one of the fastest successful pursuits of a 200-plus total by a full-member team in T20I history.
India's bowlers set the platform by restricting New Zealand despite a high-scoring venue, and the batters executed the chase clinically. The series now moves forward, with India in a strong position to continue their momentum.