🏏New Zealand vs India 2nd T20I in Raipur @7 PM IST🏏 - Page 2

Thank you for the tag 😊

Hope Axar is fit for the match if he is not then it's not easy for kuldeep to bat

Thanks for the tag Parm.

May India continue winning the matches and be in a comfortable position for the upcoming world cup.

Cheers..

Best of luck to both the teams! May the best team win!

Thanks for the thread and for tagging me Parm.

Best wishes to both the teams, a bit more for team India.

18:00 Local Time, 12:30 GMT: After a one-sided opener in Nagpur, the series now moves to Raipur for the second T20I, with India firmly in the driver’s seat. The hosts continued their dominance in the shortest format, cruising to a 48-run victory to take a 1-0 lead. Abhishek Sharma’s blistering run of form showed no signs of slowing down as he smashed a breathtaking 35-ball 84. Valuable cameos from Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh powered India to a mammoth 238. New Zealand were never truly in the hunt during the chase; their only moment of resistance came when Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman shared a brief stand in the middle. For New Zealand to stay alive in the series, they must find a way to rein in India’s explosive batting line-up - and that will require a collective step-up from their bowlers. Equally important will be handling India’s varied bowling attack, where every option has the ability to change the course of a game in a flash. A near-flawless display with both bat and ball is essential if they are to draw level. There is also a selection question for India. Axar Patel left the field in the previous match after injuring his finger - will he be fit, or will Kuldeep Yadav get the nod? All will be revealed at the toss

Hello and welcome everyone, for the second T20I between India and New Zealand. In the first game, India flexed their batting muscles to register a comprehensive win. But as we saw in the ODIs, New Zealand are more than capable of coming back from behind. A win today will give the hosts a big lead in the five-game series, but New Zealand of late have been a thorn for India in their own backyard and will be looking to keep things on an even keel.

Following a dominant win in the first T20I, India will aim to extend their lead when they host New Zealand in the second game of the series in Raipur. A win in Raipur will see India take a 2-0 lead. The Men in Blue registered a comfortable 48-run win in the series opener in Nagpur.

All eyes will be on Sanju Samson when India take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series in Raipur on Friday (January 23). Samson, who replaced Shubman Gill as an opener in the T20 World Cup squad, flopped in the first game of the series and departed for 10 off 7 balls. He was on the bench before the fifth T20I against South Africa. Samson was supposedly picked in the WC team on the basis of one good knock. He has always lacked consistency and the team management would want Samson to play big knocks regularly.

Will NZ make any changes?

New Zealand could make a couple of changes in their playing XI after leaking 238 runs in the series opener. NZ won the ODI series after coming from behind and they will back themselves to do the same in the T20I series.

India's final assignment before T20 WC

This is India's final assignment before the 2026 T20 World Cup. India will co-host the ICC event with Sri Lanka. The selectors can still make changes to the squad till January 31 but are unlikely to do so.

Will India make any changes?

It is highly unlikely that India will make any changes in the winning combinations, which means no place for Shreyas Iyer again. Since Ishan Kishan is part of the T20 WC squad, he will be backed for the number 3 job until Tilak Varma returns.

Abhishek Sharma was the star performer

Abhishek Sharma was India's star performer with the bat and the opening batter smashed 84 off just 35 balls. Batting with a strike rate of 240, Abhishek hit 8 sixes and 5 fours in his knock. Courtesy of his knock, India put on a huge total of 238/7 on the board.

Suryakumar Yadav returned to form

The good news for India was that Suryakumar Yadav returned to form during the series opener. The India T20I captain scored a vital 32 off 22 balls. He took the backseat as Abhishek Sharma was doing his usual business. Suryakumar hit 4 fours and a six in his knock.

Is Axar Patel fit?

Axar Patel suffered a finger injury during the first T20I and the fans must be wondering whether he is fit for the second game. The BCCI hasn't announced any injury to the vice-captain, which means that he is fit and ready for the second T20I.