India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I, New Zealand tour of India, 2026 - Commentary

Back-to-back commanding batting performances from India have propelled them to a dominant 2-0 lead in the series. Abhishek Sharma, who starred with an impressive 84 in the previous game, was dismissed for a duck tonight, but it had little bearing on the result. Despite the early setbacks, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav played outstanding knocks to take complete control of the chase, while Shivam Dube looked fluent and assured during his time at the crease. India have now sealed one emphatic win batting first and followed it up with a comfortable victory while chasing, emphasising the quality of this side. New Zealand are up against it and will need a strong response to remain competitive, making their approach in the remaining three T20Is an intriguing watch. For now, this is Nikhil signing off, on behalf of Akshay and Praveen. Good night!

Ishan Kishan | Player of the Match: Nothing special (for lunch), I just had normal food. I was focusing more on what I had to do today and being in a very good headspace for this game. Sometimes you understand that you’re batting well. You just have to be in a good headspace and try to watch the ball and play your good shots. We were looking not to take risks, not to go cross-batted, but I was still looking to score as many runs as possible in the powerplay. At the end of the day, when you’re chasing a 200-plus total, you have to get good runs in the powerplay. It depends on how you’re batting. I felt very good in the middle. I was able to connect the ball from ball one, so I backed myself. I had that feeling that if I just played good shots, I could make it happen for the team. I was just looking to score runs (in domestic cricket). Sometimes it’s important to do it for yourself, to answer your own questions about how you’re batting and whether you’re capable of playing for India. That’s why it was important for me to play domestic cricket and get runs. The good part was that we won the trophy as well, and I carried that confidence here. So it was a pretty good day for me. I asked myself one question (his comeback) - can I do it again or not? And I had a very clear answer. I felt I could bat through the innings and play good shots. I just needed to get runs somewhere to answer my questions. Even if I got out, I just wanted to play good cricket, that was it.

Suryakumar Yadav: (is this the way India are going to play?) I don’t know what Ishan had for lunch in the afternoon or what pre-workout he had before the game, but I’ve never seen anyone bat at 6 for 2 in that manner and still end the powerplay around 67 or 70. I thought it was incredible. Chasing 200 or 210, this is what we want from batters - to go out there, express themselves, be happy in their own space. And that’s exactly what he did today. (had the best seat in the house) I was angry he didn’t give me strike in the powerplay, but that’s okay. I had some time, played eight or ten balls, and I knew that later on, when I had time, I could cover it up. (biggest plus - his own form) Absolutely. As I’ve said before, I was batting really well in the nets. Everything I did back home over the last two or three weeks helped. I got a good break to spend time with my family and friends, had good practice sessions, and I’m really enjoying what’s happening right now. (restricting them to 208 with dew around) Yeah, I think it was an incredible effort. When they were around 100 or 110 for 2, we thought it would be a 225 or 230 total, like what happened in Nagpur. But the way Kuldeep, Varun, and that one over from Dube bowled - I think all the bowlers chipped in and took responsibility at that stage. Restricting them to 208, was an incredible effort from the bowling unit. (Starting to intimidate opponents. Everyone’s thinking, “How do we stop India?”) I’m really enjoying what’s happening right now. The mood in the camp is very happy, and I want to keep everyone in that space. We want to continue playing the same brand of cricket, irrespective of what’s happening, and leave no stone unturned.

Mitchell Santner: (how much is enough) Against these guys? 300 I guess (laughs). (where is the game headed) When you come up against a side that bats deep on a really good wicket, that’s the way India have come out - with intent from ball one. I guess they have a license for every batter. For us, it’s about trying to squeeze wherever we can. But on the flip side, we also know we probably have to go a bit harder, knowing that 200 or 210 isn’t enough anymore. (does he have an idea of their starting XI) Yeah, I think so. There are still some guys to come in, and you want to make sure everyone is firing for the World Cup. Whether that means rotating a little bit, like we did tonight - we obviously want to win. We were put under a lot of pressure tonight, which is good for us to learn from and try to bounce back, because we’ll have to in a day’s time. (he's been batting well) Yeah, it’s been nice. I guess my role now at seven means I have to get some runs. It was a very good wicket and a fast outfield, like you get in India, so I have to cash in, especially because I also have to bowl when it’s flat. (how tough was the dew) Yeah, it was there. As a spinner, trying to hold the ball can be a bit of a challenge. But it’s a little colder here than elsewhere, so we’ll move on, adapt, and see if there’s more dew in the next game.

Shivam Dube: Amazing batting by Ishan and Surya. I thought Ishan played a different knock - what a team always requires from the top six. And yes, last game it was Abhishek, and this game it was Ishan and Surya both. (what was said when India lost 2 early wickets) Nothing much. I just told the physio to mobilize my back, and everyone was chilled inside because we know how the wicket behaves. Yes, we were two wickets down - it’s cricket - but every player in the team has the ability to finish the game. (flexibility in the batting order) It just depends on what the situation is. Probably it was the left-right combination because Ishan and Surya were batting, and next Hardik and I were there. So it just depends on what is required in that situation. (was it a good wicket) Yeah, definitely we chased really nicely. You can’t say what is a good total on this wicket. If you have a good bowling side or take early wickets, then it’s different. But I think if you lose two wickets, you have to bowl really well in the powerplay. So it depends on how it’s going to come. (on his bowling effort) Yes, trying to contribute with my bowling for the team - that is very important. One over, two overs - it’s important for me and for the team as well.

Stats by Deepu Narayanan

209 hunted by India is the highest target successfully chased down after being six or fewer for two down (FM teams).
Previous highest: 194 by NZ vs Pak, Rawalpindi, 2023 (4/2 to 194)

67 runs conceded in three overs by Zak Foulkes is the most by a New Zealand bowler in a T20I surpassing Ben Wheeler’s 64 in 3.1 overs against Australia in Auckland in 2018.

Highest targets successfully chased down by India (T20I)
209 Ind vs NZ Raipur 2026 *
209 vs Aus Vizag 2023
208 vs WI Hyderabad 2019
207 vs SL Mohali 2009
204 vs NZ Auckland 2020
202 vs Aus Rajkot 2013

Successfully chasing down 200+ most times
7 Australia
6 India *
5 South Africa
4 Pakistan
3 England

Winning with most balls to spare chasing 200+ targets (FM sides)
28 balls Ind vs NZ Raipur 2026 (Tar: 209)
24 balls Pak vs NZ Auckland 2025 (Tar: 205)
23 balls Aus vs WI Basseterre 2025 (Tar: 215)
14 balls SA vs WI Joburg 2007 (Tar:206)

22:29 Local Time, 16:59 GMT: India have tightened their grip on the series with another emphatic performance, surging to a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. Earlier in the evening, New Zealand put up an imposing total in excess of 200, powered by impactful knocks from Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner, while handy cameos from the other NZ batters ensured the innings had strong finishing touches. In reply, India endured a shaky start as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were dismissed early. That stumble, however, was swiftly erased by Ishan Kishan, who launched a breathtaking counterattack, tearing into the New Zealand bowling and bringing up a blistering 21-ball half-century inside the powerplay. At the other end, Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings smartly before accelerating to register his own fifty after Kishan’s departure - his first fifty in the format after a prolonged lean patch. Shivam Dube then kept the pressure firmly on the visitors, rotating the strike and finding boundaries at regular intervals. With the Indian batters maintaining relentless momentum, the target was overhauled with ease in the 16th over. It was a dominant all-round performance by India, with the captain leading from the front and playing a crucial knock to complete a comprehensive victory. Stay around for the presentations..

Equation: 2 runs needed in 5 overs..