🏏New Zealand vs India 2nd T20I in Raipur @7 PM IST🏏 - Page 13

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.

Mitchell Santner, NZ Captain

(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.

Match Summary

Men in Blue make light work of 209! India have made a mockery of this big chase with some incredible hitting. New Zealand might have thought they had a sniff after making early inroads, but that was as good as it got for them as they soon looked helpless and out of ideas. This is a statement win from the Men in Blue, chasing down 209 with more than four overs to spare, and the Kiwis will have plenty to think about, especially in their bowling department.

Ishan Kiishan and SKY Power India to Record Chase! The big question was whether India could maintain their aggressive approach if Abhishek Sharma failed, and that was answered emphatically in this chase. After both openers were dismissed and India slipped to 6/2, Ishan Kishan continued his fine domestic form and launched a brutal assault on the New Zealand bowlers, bringing up his fifty in just 21 balls and racing to a fiery 76 off 32. SKY initially played second fiddle, but together they added a match-defining 122-run stand that broke the back of the chase. After Kishan’s dismissal, the skipper shifted gears to remain unbeaten on 82 off 37, his first fifty since 2024, while Dube chipped in with three sixes as India sealed their joint-highest successful chase in T20Is.

New Zealand's batting! Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, New Zealand posted a big total, although they might feel they left a few runs behind in the middle overs, given the strong start they made. They played with intent throughout despite losing wickets, with most batters getting starts, but the standout contributions came from Ravindra’s 44 off 26 and Santner’s unbeaten 47 off 27, which gave their bowlers a solid cushion in wet conditions. For India, Kuldeep and Varun slowed the scoring by sharing three wickets, while Pandya, Rana and Dube chipped in with one each, and although Arshdeep had a rare off day up front, he did pull things back a bit at the death.

One Over That Turned the Tide! New Zealand will feel they missed a big opportunity after having the hosts where they wanted, with Henry and Duffy striking early. However, once Santner handed the third over to Foulkes, the momentum completely shifted as he was taken for 26 runs, and the Kiwis never really found a way back into the contest. Foulkes could not recover and ended up conceding 67 runs from his three overs. Sodhi did manage to pick up a wicket in the middle, but by then the damage had already been done. A few uncharacteristic dropped chances further summed up their night, showing just how much pressure they were under, and the wet conditions only added to their woes as they suffered a heavy defeat.

Suryakumar Yadav, IND T20I captain

(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.

Congratulations team India

So happy for Ishan & Surya

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.

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.

That brings us to the end of this run-fest in Raipur, where India made it 2-0 with a chasing masterclass. Next, we shift our focus to Guwahati and the Barsapara Stadium for the third T20I of this five-match series, with India looking to seal the series and New Zealand needing a win to stay alive.

Well, what a game that was. T20 cricket at its explosive best, across both the innings. Some stunning batting, some good bowling.

India phir Jeet gayi

Congratulations to Team India!
Ishan and Surya sealed the deal with their batting, Kuldeep, Varun and Rana with their bowling! Well done!!

Originally posted by: SlatePencil

India phir Jeet gayi

Aapko iss baat ka dukh hai kyaa