Who won India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I today? — Match result & turning points

India solidified their position on the five-match T20I series with a dominant run chase in the second T20I, taking a 2-0 lead. Batting first after being invited in, New Zealand posted 208 for six, built around contributions from Rachin Ravindra, who hit 44 off 26 balls, and captain Mitchell Santner, whose unbeaten 47 off 27 deliveries provided a good finish. However, despite the total, the Kiwi bowling attack struggled to contain India’s deep batting line-up, with Zak Foulkes having a forgettable outing and conceding 67 runs, the most ever by a New Zealand bowler in a T20I innings.

India’s chase began poorly as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma departed early, but the setback was forgotten, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s counterattack. Kishan smashed a 76 off 32 balls, bringing up a 21-ball half-century and completely swinging the momentum. Suryakumar Yadav got his form back by anchoring the innings with a fifty, ending a lean patch, while Shivam Dube maintained the pressure with regular boundaries. India reached the target in the 16th over, sealing a comprehensive victory.

Top batting performances of the match — Ishan Kishan

Left-handed batter Ishan Kishan delivered a record-breaking knock after the hosts lost two quick wickets while chasing 209. The southpaw began by smashing 24 runs off Zakary Foulkes in the third over and followed it up by targeting Jacob Duffy, Mitchell Santner, and Matt Henry. He raced to his half-century in just 21 balls, breaking Abhishek Sharma’s record to register the fastest fifty by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is. Kishan’s 76 off 32 balls, laced with 11 fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 237.50, was the headline of India’s chase. His 122-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav steadied India after the early collapse and put them in a strong position.

Top bowling performances of the match — Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav was clinical with the ball despite New Zealand crossing the 200-run mark. Bowling his full quota of four overs, the left-arm wrist-spinner finished with figures of 2 for 35. His first wicket came in the form of the well-set Rachin Ravindra (44 off 26), tempting him with a wide, floated delivery that led to a sliced edge to short third. Kuldeep then outfoxed Glenn Phillips (19 off 13) with a beautifully disguised googly, drawing a mistimed shot that resulted in a simple catch at backward point. 

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Zak Foulkes conceded 67 runs, the most ever by a New Zealand bowler in a T20I innings, surpassing Ben Wheeler’s 64.
• India successfully chased 209, their joint-highest successful run chase in T20I history.
• India’s 209 chase against New Zealand in Raipur (2026) equals their highest successful T20I chase, alongside 209 vs Australia in Vizag (2023).
• India now has six successful chases of 200+ targets, the second-most by any team in T20Is.
• India won the match with 28 balls to spare, the most balls remaining while chasing a 200+ target by a Full Member side.
• Zak Foulkes’ 67 runs in his first three overs is the most conceded by a bowler in their first three T20I overs for a Full Member team.
• Ishan Kishan smashed a 21-ball fifty, the fastest fifty by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is.
• Suryakumar Yadav registered his first 50+ score after 24 T20I innings, ending a long lean patch.
• Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav now share the joint record of eight 25-or-fewer-ball fifties in T20Is.
• Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav added 122 runs in 48 balls, one of the fastest high-scoring partnerships between Full Member teams.
• Zak Foulkes also conceded 49 runs in his first two overs, the most by a Full Member bowler in T20Is.
• Ishan Kishan’s 56 off 23 balls is the second-highest Powerplay score by an Indian batter in T20Is.
• Kishan’s knock became only the second 50+ score by a non-opener in the Powerplay among Full Member teams.
• India’s 75/2 Powerplay was their second-highest Powerplay total against New Zealand in T20Is.
• New Zealand posted their highest-ever T20I total against India, surpassing 196/2 from Rajkot in 2017.
• It was also New Zealand’s highest T20I total without any individual fifty in the innings.
• Since 2025, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy have taken 34 wickets in 10 T20Is together at an average of 12.91.
• Arshdeep Singh conceded 18 runs in the first over, the joint-most expensive first over by an Indian bowler in T20Is.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Ishan Kishan was handed the Player of the Match award for his record 76 off just 32 deliveries, during which he took India out of early trouble and put them on a driving seat. The southpaw laced his knock with 11 fours and five sixes, striking at 237.50. With this knock, he also fastest fifty by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is. Notably, his stand with skipper Suryakumar Yadav got India back in the hunt and made the chase look easy.

What is the next match?

India will take on New Zealand in the third T20I of the five-match series on Sunday, January 25, in the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.