IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Match Overview
India, fresh off a convincing 48-run victory in the series opener, face New Zealand in the second match of this five-game T20I series at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur tonight (Friday, 23 January 2026). The Men in Blue piled up a massive 238 in Nagpur, powered by a brutal 84 from Abhishek Sharma and a ferocious Rinku Singh cameo. NZ fought back through Glenn Phillips’ blitz but came up short.
The pressure is on New Zealand to avoid a 0-2 hole early, while India will smell blood and push for a series lead.
Pitch Report: What to Expect in Raipur
This surface usually leans batsman-friendly early, especially under lights. Expect the ball to come on nicely and allow free-flowing strokeplay in the opening 6-8 overs. Spinners will likely become important in the middle overs as the pitch starts gripping and slows down a touch, offering turn and variation to bowlers like Kuldeep, Chakravarthy, and Santner.
Quick summary
- Early overs: Flat and easy to bat, ideal for powerplay scoring.
- Middle overs: Turn and slower bounce helps spinners.
- Death overs: Similar to other Indian surfaces — reward for consistent yorkers and variation.
If you’re wondering how this could influence totals, think high 170s to 200+ if batsmen cash in early, but inch under 180–190 if spin shackles the scoring after 8 overs.
Trend Signals: Head-to-Head & Recent Stats
India and New Zealand have played 26 T20Is historically, with India leading the rivalry (15–10). That dominance is a psychological edge that often matters in tight moments.
Top India performers (historical IND vs NZ)
- Suryakumar Yadav: 316 runs at 152 SR vs NZ.
- Shreyas Iyer: 225 runs in 11 matches.
- Abhishek Sharma continues his hot form in this series.
Top NZ performers (historical IND vs NZ)
- Daryl Mitchell: 269 runs vs India in T20Is.
- Ish Sodhi: 26 wickets in the fixture – big threat with spin.
- Mitchell Santner: 19 wickets + handy bat down the order.
India’s Likely XI & Who Could Dominate
After the first game, India’s unit looks balanced with firepower, spin, and death bowling depth.
Probable XI
Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel / Kuldeep Yadav (fit permitting), Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Players Poised for Big Impact
- Abhishek Sharma – if that strike rate stays near 240, no total is too big.
- Suryakumar Yadav – classic middle-order stabilizer with big boundary potential.
- Rinku Singh – perfect finisher at death.
- Varun Chakravarthy & Kuldeep Yadav – can choke runs in middle overs.
- Jasprit Bumrah & Arshdeep Singh – specialists for late overs.
New Zealand Threat Actors
NZ will need their big names firing:
Core performers
- Glenn Phillips – game changer with bat; can single-handedly drag NZ back.
- Mitchell Santner – spin control and handy hitting late.
- Ish Sodhi – leg-spin menace, especially if the pitch grips.
- Tim Robinson & Rachin Ravindra – if they click top order, NZ can post defendable totals.
Bottom line: We’re set for a classic high-tempo T20I with runs early, spin intrigue in the middle, and nerve-jangling death overs.india’s depth gives them an edge, but NZ’s match-winners can turn it around with an explosive partnership or tight bowling spell.
