Raipur: Team India delivered a stunning display of aggressive batting to crush New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
After opting to field first, India’s bowlers kept the Kiwis in check despite a solid total of 208/6 in 20 overs. Rachin Ravindra smashed a quick 44 off 26 balls, while Mitchell Santner remained unbeaten on 47 off 27 to propel the innings. Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets, with Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy claiming one each.
Chasing 209, India made light work of the target, racing to victory in just 15.2 overs (92 balls) – a record-breaking chase for a 200-plus total in under 16 overs. Ishan Kishan set the tone with a blistering 76 off 32 balls (11 fours, 4 sixes), reaching his fifty in a mere 21 balls – the fastest by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is. Captain Suryakumar Yadav anchored the chase with an unbeaten 82 off 37 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes), while Shivam Dube finished unbeaten on 36 off 18.
Early setbacks saw Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma depart cheaply, but Kishan and Suryakumar forged a match-defining partnership to dominate the Kiwi attack. The explosive innings showcased India’s depth and intent ahead of the T20 World Cup.
This commanding win strengthens India’s dominance and puts New Zealand under pressure to avoid a series whitewash.