India crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I of the five-match series at Raipur. After being asked to bat, New Zealand posted a huge total of 208 for 6 in 20 overs, powered by blazing knocks from Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra.
In reply, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav showcased the full range of modern T20 batting. Kishan smashed 76 off just 32 balls, while Suryakumar remained unbeaten on 82 off 37 deliveries. Their brilliance helped India chase down a daunting target of 209 in only 15.2 overs.
Despite losing two wickets early and slipping to 6 for 2 after just 1.1 overs, India still completed their joint-highest successful run chase in T20 internationals. They won the match comfortably with seven wickets to spare and now lead the series 2–0.
New Zealand’s Explosive Powerplay Start
Earlier, Devon Conway gave New Zealand a flying start. He attacked Arshdeep Singh’s swing by targeting the off side, smashing three fours and a six in an 18-run opening over.
Arshdeep’s second over also went for 18 runs, with Tim Seifert striking four consecutive boundaries.
India briefly regained control through Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy. Rana dismissed Conway with a slower ball, caught at mid-off, marking the fourth time he had got Conway out on this tour — each dismissal coming from around the wicket.
Ravindra Keeps New Zealand Ahead
Varun then removed Seifert, who skied a shot that Kishan caught brilliantly while back-pedalling from short midwicket.
However, Rachin Ravindra countered strongly in the final powerplay over. He smashed two slower balls from Rana for sixes and added a four in between, taking New Zealand to 64 for 2 after six overs.
Middle Overs Hurt New Zealand’s Momentum
Ravindra continued the attack against Varun, hitting two sixes in the eighth over. Glenn Phillips then took on Kuldeep Yadav, striking a six and two fours off the first four balls of the ninth over.
However, Phillips miscued a wrong ’un and was caught at backward point. Even so, New Zealand reached 111 for 3 at the halfway mark and appeared well placed.
India Strike Back After Drinks
India staged a strong comeback after the drinks break. Shivam Dube dismissed Daryl Mitchell with a slower ball, while Kuldeep trapped Ravindra, who edged a wide delivery to short third.
Those quick wickets stalled New Zealand’s progress. They managed only 41 runs in the six overs from the 12th to the 17th, losing momentum at a crucial stage.
Santner’s Late Push Not Enough
Mitchell Santner once again provided resistance at the death, hitting four fours and a six in the closing overs. Zak Foulkes chipped in with a useful 15 not out from eight balls.
New Zealand added 47 runs in the final three overs and crossed the 200 mark. However, the slowdown in the middle overs proved costly, leaving them with a total that India eventually chased down with ease.
New Zealand Post a Big Total in Dewy Conditions
After being asked to bat first on a dew-affected surface, New Zealand got off to a flying start. Although only one of their top five batters crossed 25, all of them struck at a rate above 140.
India pulled things back briefly during the middle overs. However, Mitchell Santner played a vital late knock, scoring 47 not out from 27 balls, to push New Zealand to 208 for 6.
At the post-match presentation, Santner admitted the total was not enough and said they probably needed 300. He was only half-joking.
Early Wickets Put India Under Pressure
India’s chase began poorly. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma scored just six runs between them. India were fortunate early on when Devon Conway dropped Samson at deep square leg off Matt Henry and deflected the ball over the boundary.
Samson failed to make the most of that chance and was caught at mid-on later in the same over. Abhishek fell for a first-ball duck, flicking Jacob Duffy straight to deep square leg, where Conway made no mistake.
At that stage, New Zealand were clearly on top. But Kishan quickly turned the momentum.
Kishan’s Explosive Counterattack
Kishan launched a fierce assault on Zak Foulkes in the third over, smashing three fours and a six. That over also included three wides and a no-ball, completely shifting the pressure.
From there, Kishan took full control. He raced to his half-century in just 21 balls, breaking Abhishek Sharma’s record from the first T20I for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batter against New Zealand by one ball.
By the end of the powerplay, India had surged to 75 for 2 and were firmly back in the contest.
Spinners Play Into Kishan’s Strengths
The presence of left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, both of whom turn the ball into the left-hander, worked in Kishan’s favour. He comfortably cleared the ropes against both bowlers.
Although Sodhi finally induced a miscue in the tenth over, the damage was already done. By then, the required run rate had dropped to a manageable 7.36.
Suryakumar Finds His Rhythm Again
During a difficult phase last year, Suryakumar Yadav repeatedly insisted he was “not out of form, only out of runs.” In Raipur, he found those runs in abundance.
He showed early signs of a return to form in the first T20I with a 32 off 22. In this match, he looked far more fluent. With Kishan dominating the strike early, Suryakumar took his time, reaching 10 off 10 balls before sweeping Santner for four in the eighth over.
Suryakumar Takes Over the Chase
Once he settled, the runs flowed freely. In the very next over, Suryakumar hammered Zak Foulkes for four fours and a six.
Even after Kishan was dismissed, he ensured the momentum never dropped. He reached his fifty — his first in 24 T20I innings — in just 23 balls. His strokeplay covered every part of the ground, from innovative shots behind the wicket to powerful drives through the off side.
Luck Favors Suryakumar as India March On
Suryakumar also enjoyed a slice of luck. Mark Chapman tipped a tough catch over the boundary when he was on 43. Santner later dropped a simple chance when he was on 64, and a leading edge on 70 narrowly avoided backward point.
Still, those moments only added to a knock that felt long overdue. Supported by Shivam Dube, who scored 36 not out from 18 balls, Suryakumar guided India to victory and a 2-0 lead in the series.