The second match of the five-match T20 series between India and New Zealand was held on January 23 (Friday) at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. The Indian team clinched a victory by 7 wickets. Set a target of 209 runs, India successfully chased it down in just 15.2 overs. Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav put on a spectacular performance. Ishan scored 76 runs, while Suryakumar remained unbeaten at 82*.
The first match of the T20 series between the two teams was held in Nagpur on January 21, with India emerging victorious by 48 runs. With this win, India now leads the series 2-0. The third match is scheduled to take place in Guwahati on January 25.
Ishan's Storming Innings Changes the Game, Suryakumar Shines
Initially, India's chase was rocky. Sanju Samson fell prey to Matt Henry at a personal score of 6, and Abhishek Sharma was dismissed on his very first ball by Jacob Duffy. After being at 6 for 2, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan formed a blistering 122-run partnership for the third wicket.
During this partnership, Ishan completed his fifty in just 21 balls with 9 fours and two sixes, while captain Surya did not shy away from aggressive shots. Ishan Kishan was dismissed after scoring 76, facing 32 balls and hitting 11 fours and four sixes in his innings.
Post Ishan's dismissal, Surya and Shivam anchored India to victory. Suryakumar, facing 37 balls, played an unbeaten innings of 82 runs, which included 9 fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, Shivam scored an unbeaten 36 from 18 balls with 3 sixes and a four.
New Zealand's Innings Overview
After losing the toss, New Zealand was put to bat and they scored a formidable total of 208 for 6. The Kiwi team's start was explosive. Tim Seifert and Devon Conway partnered for 43 runs for the first wicket. Harshit Rana gave India their first breakthrough by dismissing Conway (19 runs). Then, spinner Varun Chakravarthy caught Seifert in his web. Seifert made 24 runs off 13 balls with five boundaries.
This was followed by a 55-run partnership for the third wicket between Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Phillips at his individual score of 19, breaking the partnership. Daryl Mitchell did not contribute much and was dismissed at 18 by Shivam Dube. Then, Kuldeep dismissed the hard-hitting Rachin Ravindra, who played a daring innings of 44 off 26 balls with two fours and four sixes.
New Zealand lost their sixth wicket in Mark Chapman (10 runs), taken by Hardik Pandya. From here, captain Mitchell Santner and Jacari Faulkes added a rapid 47 runs in just 19 balls, pushing New Zealand to a substantial score. Santner remained unbeaten with 47 runs off 27 balls, including 6 fours and a six. On India's bowling front, Kuldeep Yadav took the maximum of two wickets.
For this match, India made key changes to their playing eleven. Injured Axar Patel was dropped and Jasprit Bumrah was rested, making way for Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana. In contrast, New Zealand made three substitutions in their playing eleven.
Probable Playing Eleven for New Zealand in Raipur T20:
Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Jacari Faulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy.
India's Playing Eleven in Raipur T20:
Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy.
H2H Record Between India and New Zealand
Total T20I Matches - 27India has won: 14New Zealand has won: 10Tie: 3
India's Full Squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, and Harshit Rana.
New Zealand's Full Squad:
Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway, Bevan Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Jacari Faulkes, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Cristian Clarke.
