भारत vs न्यूजीलैंड, दूसरा टी-20 Commentary, Live Updates

Signing off! 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 on Sunday, 25th January, with India looking to seal the series and New Zealand needing a win to stay alive. The game will begin at 1.30 pm GMT (7 pm IST), but as always, you can join us early for all the build-up and coverage. For now, thanks for your company, take care, and we will see you at the next one.

Player of the match Ishan Kishan (76 off 32 balls) says his focus was firmly on what he needed to do and that he was in a good headspace for this game. He feels that at times, you simply know when you are batting well, and it was about watching the ball closely and playing good cricket shots. Chasing 209, Ishan acknowledges the importance of getting a solid start in the Powerplay. Mentions that he was able to connect well from the start and he backed himself. Ishan also highlights the importance of domestic cricket in earning his way back into the national side. He adds that when he was out of the national side, he kept asking himself if he could do it again.

The victorious skipper of India Suryakumar Yadav jokingly says that he does not know what Kishan had for lunch. Adds that he has never seen someone bat like that after being 6/2, and then end the Powerplay at around 70. Mentions that they want their batters to play like that and express themselves out there. Tells that he got angry as Kishan did not give him the strike in the Powerplay, but he got to assess the conditions. Says that he has been batting really well in the nets and had a good practice and a break before this game. Credits all his bowlers for the way they pulled things back, as at one point he thought they could be chasing 230-odd runs. Ends by saying that the mood in the camp is really good, and he is enjoying it and wants to keep it in that space.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner reflects on the defeat. Asked how much is enough against this Indian side, he cheekily responds that maybe even 300 might not be enough against these guys. Santner says when you come up against a side that bats deep on a good wicket and with the way India came out, it becomes all about trying to squeeze wherever possible. He admits they know that 200 or 210 is unlikely to be enough and that his side needs to go harder with the bat to stay competitive. Santner also points out that some players are yet to come into the side and stresses the importance of keeping the group fresh with the World Cup in mind. He feels games like these are good learning experiences for the team. He further says that it was a very good wicket with a quick outfield, and cheekily adds that he needed to cash in with the bat as he had to bowl later on this wicket.

Presentation Time...

Shivam Dube has a quick chat. He praises the batting from Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, calling it an amazing effort. Dube says Ishan played exactly what the team required, adding that while it was Abhishek Sharma who stepped up in the previous game, today it was Ishan who led the way. Talking about the mood in the camp after losing two early wickets, Dube jokes that he just told the physio to mobilise his back and shares that the atmosphere in the dressing room was pretty calm. Tells that they knew how the wicket was behaving here and says the belief in the group is strong, with every player having the ability to finish games. When asked about his promotion, he replies that it just depends on the situation. Mentions that the move was probably down to the left-right combination, with Ishan and Suryakumar at the crease and Hardik and himself next in. Tells that he is not really sure what a good total is on such surfaces, but the key to defending the totals is to pick early wickets and bowl well in the Powerplay.

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 24 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.

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.

Kishan and SKY power 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.

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.

India romp home! Mitchell serves another short ball, around the left shoulder. Dube gets on his toes to ride the bounce and pulls it through mid-wicket for the winning run. The Men in Blue chase 209 in a canter as they get home with 28 balls to spare.

Mitchell begins with an off-cutter, into the wicket. The line is around the hips. Suryakumar pulls it across to deep backward square leg for a single. Scores are level!

A searing yorker at 133.3 kph, at the toes. SKY gets the front pad out of the way and jams it out behind on the leg side for one.

On a short of a length, outside off, Suryakumar punches it off the back foot to cover.

A good effort by Ish Sodhi! Sprayed on the pads by Duffy, on a length, Dube swings to get it past short fine leg. It goes on the bounce to Sodhi there, who dives to his right and gets a hand to it. He parries it away to his right. Just a single.

Nails the wide yorker, does Duffy. Dube gets his bat down and steers it with an open bat face behind square. Mark Chapman sprints and slides to his left in the deep to cut it off. Two runs taken. 4 more needed for India.

Wide! More effort behind this short ball but this is too high, over middle. Dube ducks under it as the ball sails over his head.

SIX! That has gone back many a mile. Duffy bashes the hard length, outside off. Dube stands tall on his toes, swivels and smacks the pull over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 200 comes up for India.

Going across the left-hander, on a length, Dube swings through and powers the drive to the man at mid off.

FOUR! SKY looks in a hurry to finish this game now. Fuller delivery, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav presents the full face of the bat and lofts it over the bowler's head towards the long on fence for four more runs. India need just 13 runs to win now.

WIDE! Tries the slower bouncer but goes way down the leg side, SKY leaves it. Wided.

FOUR! Deft touch now. Short of a length and just around off. Suryakumar Yadav plays it very late, opens the face of the bat and uses the pace to steer it to the third man fence for a boundary.

In the air..SAFE again! Fuller and on off, SKY looks to flick it away but gets a leading edge over point. Conway runs backwards but loses sight of the ball and cannot reach it. Two taken.

SIX! Change of bat, change of result! Pitched up and just around off, Suryakumar Yadav gets right underneath it and clobbers it down the ground over the long off fence for half a dozen more.

DROPPED! Would you believe it? It is the skipper who puts it down, which you don't see often. Hard length and on off, SKY tries to slam it down the ground but miscues it off the outer half of the bat, wide of cover. Santner runs to his right but gets a bit casual and spills it down. He gives a hug to his bowler, for whom the night cannot end quickly here.

On a length and on middle, Dube clips it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Zakary Foulkes is back in the attack. A tough outing for him so far, having gone for 49 runs in his 2 overs.

Back of a length and on middle, takes pace off, Suryakumar Yadav bends his back to sway away and almost falls over but manages to upper cut it over the short third fielder to collect two runs. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters in just 23 balls.

A rare swing and a miss! A slower one, full and outside off. SKY backs away a bit too much and throws his bat at it but misses.

Hard length and outside off, Dube punches it to sweeper cover for one.

FOUR! Powered away! Short of a length and just outside off, Dube extends his arms and muscles it away wide of long off. Santner is not too far away, but the ball zips through the outfield and beats his dive to his right for a boundary.

A low full toss, on leg, SKY jams it out towards mid on for a quick single.

SIX! It's raining sixes here in Raipur! Fuller delivery, on middle, Suryakumar Yadav steps across and plays the scoop. He gets it from the outer half of the bat and goes miles in the air. The fielder at deep fine leg thinks he is in the game but only watches it sail over his head for a biggie.

Matt Henry returns to the attack. 2-0-27-1 so far for Henry. He went for 21 runs in his previous over.

SIX! That is bread and butter for him! Flighted, full and on middle, turns in. Dube gets it right in his arc, clears his front leg away and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Floated, full and around off, SKY goes inside out and lofts it towards sweeper cover for one.

Quicker, short and on middle, Shivam Dube forces it onto the pitch and the bounce takes it over the bowler's head towards long on for one.

A shout for LBW, but turned down! However, Mitchell Santner takes the review but more in desperation. Flatter, full and on middle and leg. Dube stays back to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. UltraEdge shows no bat involved and Ball Tracking shows that it has pitched outside leg. The Kiwis lose a review.

SIX! Going, going, gone! That is a six on any ground in the world. A googly, full and on middle, turns away. Dube gets down on one knee and launches it high and handsomely over the long on fence for a biggie. 100 METERS!

Floated, full and on middle, Dube flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Bangs this into the pitch and just outside off. SKY hops up and swats it aerially but well wide of the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Short of a length and on off, Shivam Dube flat-bats it to long on for one.

FIFTY FOR SKY! After 23 innings, the Indian skipper has got a half-century and this is a big positive for the hosts to see him back in form ahead of the World Cup. Good length and around off, Suryakumar Yadav guides it towards deep point for a single. He touches the pitch and points up to the sky to celebrate his milestone.

SIX! JUST OVER! A slower one, full and around middle, Suryakumar Yadav gets inside the line to play his favourite scoop but gets it from the toe-end of the bat. It flies towards deep backward square leg, where Mark Chapman leaps up and tries to push it back to save the six, but takes his eyes off the ball and it pops over the ropes for a six.

Back of a length and on middle, SKY steps across and nudges it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Fuller and on middle, Dube drills it down the pitch. Duffy dives to his left on the follow-through but lets it through to long on for a single.

Flat and full, at the sticks, Dube taps it to long on and keeps the strike with a single. A good over for New Zealand. A wicket and 5 runs off it. Can they build on this?

Short and turning away, outside off, Suryakumar waits on it and steers it wide of short third. They cross.

Short and outside off, cut away to deep point for a single.

This stays low, slow and short, on middle. SKY knocks it to long on for one.

Another wrong'un, short and on off, Dube stays back and pulls it hard towards mid-wicket, where Henry lets it through and concedes a single.

DRINKS! New Zealand have managed to get rid of Ishan Kishan and break the massive 122-run stand, but the damage has already been done here. They will need a couple of more wickets to put pressure back on India, but with the depth in batting the hosts have, they are favourites at the moment. However, we have seen stranger things happen in cricket, and if the Kiwis manage to test the middle order, they could still make a game out of this one. Also, Shivam Dube is the next batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT! The fireworks from Ishan Kishan are over. The googly does the trick for Ish Sodhi. This is flighted, full and outside off, Ishan walks across his stumps and gets low to unleash the slog sweep. He plays against the turn and the ball catches a top edge. It is skied towards short fine leg, where Matt Henry does not quite judge it that well and could have taken a step or two more in front to make the catch easier for himself. He reaches out in front in the end to take the catch. Ishan falls for 76 (32). India are now 128/3, chasing 81 runs from 65 balls.

Full and at the sticks, Yadav firms the drive with a straight bat to the left of long on for a couple of runs. 25 runs off the over!

SIX! Make that 25 runs! Foulkes bowls the slow, short ball but fails to get it high enough, on off and middle. Yadav walks inside the line, waits on it and picks it up over long leg for a biggie.

FOUR! All class from the Indian captain. Pitched up by Foulkes, on off, Suryakumar leans on and caresses the drive all along the ground between cover and mid off for the fourth boundary of the over. 17 runs off the over with two balls to go.

FOUR! Off the edge! Nothing going right for Foulkes. Ths is on a length, outside off, Suryakumar pushes away from his body with hard hands. The ball catches the outside edge and goes wide of the keeper for a four.

Wide! Foulkes gets it all wrong. Zakary attempts the slower ball but sprays it well down leg.

FOUR! Same region but over that fielder this time. Foulkes bashes the hard length, over off, Suryakumar arches back and uses the pace on the ball. Plays the upper cut over short third for a four.

FOUR! Gets it through! Off-cutter, on a length, on off, SKY extends his hands and opens the bat face. He glides it to the right of the sliding short third fielder for a four.

Zakary Foulkes comes back into the attack. He conceded 24 runs in his first over.

Full and on off, Yadav pushes it to long off for a single. 15 runs off Santner's second over. He has conceded 27 runs in his first two overs.

FOUR! Off the top edge but the Indian skipper will take it. Darted in from around the wicket, full and on middle. Suryakumar gets low to play the hard sweep. He fails to roll his wrists over the ball and gets a top edge. The ball flies over short fine leg. Ish Sodhi gives it a chase and slides to pull it back in but the ball touches the boundary cushions first and then he pushes the ball away. 100 comes up for India!

Keeps it slow and wide too, on a length. Ishan has a swing at it but shanks it to long off for one.

Hangs it up there a bit, does Santner, on a length, outside off, SKY reaches out in front and drops on a knee. He brooms it behind square for a run.

Low full toss, across off, this is hit down to long on for one.

Wide! Santner switches to around the wicket and tries to run it across the left-hander. Sprays it wide on off.

SIX! Phenomenal striking! Fractionally short, on off, Ishan picks up the length quickly and goes on the back foot in a flash. He nails the pull over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Fuller and in the blockhole, on off, Kishan jams it out to long off for a single. 13 from the over, no Kiwi bowler is spared here.

SIX! Ish Sodhi held half a hand up as he thought it was going to hand but it kept going over the deep fielder. Flatter and shorter, on middle, Kishan dances down the track and smacks it flat towards deep mid-wicket. Glenn Phillips at deep mid-wicket thought he was in business but it sailed over his head.

Looped up, full and outside off, SKY plants his front foot across and drags the sweep square on the leg side. It is cut off with a sliding effort in the deep. They cross.

On a nagging length, this is smeared away in front of square for a single.

FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective! Sodhi tries to keep it away from the batter's arc, very full, Ishan walks across to the off side and brings out the reverse. He plays it behind point for a four.

Starts with a flighted delivery, full and on middle, Ishan has a big swing at it. He almost swings himself off his feet. Gets it off an inside edge to short fine leg.

Despite losing both openers, India have bossed the Powerplay. New Zealand now bring in the wrist spinner as Ish Sodhi replaces his skipper.

Banged in short, on middle, pulled to deep mid-wicket for one by Ishan. 21 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, India are 75/2.

FOUR! No chance for any of the fielders this time. Henry lands it full, outside off, Ishan swings through the line and slams it over extra cover. It almost went the distance as the ball bounced just in front of the boundary cushions.

FOUR! Just over and that will be FIFTY for Ishan Kishan. Ishan brings up his half-century in 21 balls and this is now the fastest fifty by an Indian in a T20I against New Zealand. Abhishek Sharma held the record before this with his 22-ball half-century in the first game. Low full toss, near the tramline on off. Ishan gets low and reaches out. He chips it over a leaping Mitchell Santner at wide mid off for a four.

SIX! Swung away nicely! Another off-pace delivery but this is fuller, on middle and leg. Kishan stays deep in the crease and crouches to get under the ball. He clobbers it over deep square leg for a six.

Into the surface, pace off, on off, Yadav stands tall and whips it through mid-wicket for a single.

Wide! Henry digs it in too short, outside off, SKY ducks under it. Wide given for height.

FOUR! That is a shot and a half! At 131.3 kph, on a good length, on off and middle. Suryakumar brings his bat out in front and just checks his drive. It races past mid on's left for a four. Last four balls have found the fence and India are flying!

Change of ends for Matt Henry.

FOUR! Three in a row to end the over! Shorter in length and outside off, Kishan rocks back quicker, extends his arms and punches it sweetly through covers for four more runs. Three dots followed by a hat-trick of boundaries in the over.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Tries to bowl it quick and on the pads, but spills out a full toss, on leg. Ishan Kishan gets down on one knee and paddles it over the short fine leg fielder for another boundary.

FOUR! Zakary Foulkes is not having a great day out there! Fired full and on middle, Ishan Kishan once again has a big swipe across the line. It goes off the inside half of the bat towards deep mid-wicket. Foulkes runs to his left, gets to it with a slide but lets it through his legs for a boundary.

Change of bat for Ishan Kishan.

What happened there? Not just the ball, the bat is flying too. Tossed up around off, Kishan camps back to heave it over the leg side but does not quite get hold of it. The inner edge drags it towards square leg, and the bat slips out of his hands, landing nearby as well. It's all happening in Raipur.

Flatter, full and on leg, Kishan flicks it away to square leg. Looks for a run but is sent back.

Floated, full and on off, Ishan pushes it towards short cover.

Zakary Foulkes has been replaced after an expensive first over. Mitchell Santner brings himself on.

A yorker now, on middle, Kishan jams it out towards mid off for a quick single.

On a length and on middle, Kishan nudges it to short mid-wicket.

FOUR! Much more in control this time! Back of a length and outside off, Kishan frees his arms and absolutely crunches it towards point. Glenn Phillips flings himself to his left to grab it but the ball zips past him for a boundary. If he can't reach it, then no one can.

FOUR! In the air but in the gap as well! Pitched up and just outside off, Ishan Kishan extends his arms to reach out but loses his balance in the process. He carves it aerially but wide of extra cover. Santner gives a good chase, dives forward to push it back inside, but parries it to the fence for a boundary.

Short of a length and outside off, Ishan Kishan stabs it out towards cover-point.

Hard length and around off, Suryakumar Yadav pats it wide of mid off for a single.

SIX! BOOM! 24 runs off the over. This is full again and angling into the leg side, Kishan gets inside the line of it, uses his wrists and whips it over the deep fine leg fence for half a dozen more. India are right back in this chase.

Misses out there! Fullish and around leg, Kishan tucks it away but straight towards short fine. A bit either side of that fielder and it would have been a boundary.

FOUR! 18 off the over already with 2 balls to go! Bangs this into the pitch and around off. Kishan drags his pull and beats the dive of the mid-wicket fielder to his left for another boundary.

On a length and on leg, SKY flicks it through mid-wicket for a run.

Comes around the wicket, lands this on a hard length and on off, Kishan steers it through point for a single.

WIDE! This is not good bowling, and Foulkes is releasing a bit of pressure from India. Full and down the leg again, Kishan tries to scoop but misses. Third wide of the over.

FOUR! Blazed away! Overpitched and around off, Kishan gets underneath it and smashes it to the long off fence for a boundary.

WIDE! Errs in line and pitches it up down the leg side, Kishan fails to flick it away. Another wide. Free Hit is still there.

WIDE! Goes fuller and way, way outside off, Ishan Kishan throws his bat to try and reach out but misses and falls over as well. Called a wide. Free Hit continues...

NO BALL AND FOUR! Not the greatest of starts from Zakary Foulkes! He lands this short of a length and outside off, but on his load up, he breaks the stumps with his right hand. Kishan stands tall and slaps it over extra cover for a boundary. It is called a No Ball. Free Hit up next...

On a length and on leg, Suryakumar Yadav clips it to short mid-wicket. Just 2 runs and a big wicket from the over.

Absolute jaffa! Jacob Duffy lands this on a good length and in that channel outside off, hits the deck and straightens a bit. Suryakumar Yadav gets squared up as the ball zips past the outside edge.

Short of a length and outside off, Kishan cuts it away to deep point for a run.

Ohh...that one takes off! Back of a length and on off, rises up off the deck sharply. Suryakumar Yadav gets surprised as he hangs his bat away from his body. It takes the shoulder of the bat and goes towards deep third for a single.

Fuller on middle, SKY knocks it down the pitch, where Duffy gets a hand on it on his follow-through to make a half-stop.

In walks the Indian skipper. Here's Suryakumar Yadav.

OUT! TAKEN! Jacob Duffy strikes on his first delivery, and there will be no fireworks from Abhishek Sharma in this game. Fuller delivery and on the pads. Just like Samson, Abhishek also picks it up and flicks it but hits it to the longer side of the ground. Also, does not get the distance as it goes straight to deep square leg, where Devon Conway pouches it safely. He makes up for his dropped chance. Sharma departs for a golden duck, and the Kiwis are well and truly on top here.

An eventful first over. Jacob Duffy will steam in from the other end.

Pitched up and on middle, shaping in a bit, Ishan Kishan gets forward and knocks it towards mid off. 6 runs and a big wicket from the first over then.

Ishan Kishan is in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Matt Henry gets his man, and Devon Conway is the most relieved man on the field. Much fuller this time, on middle, angling in a bit. Sanju Samson looks to go over mid on, but gets it from the toe-end of the bat. He knows the moment he hits it and the ball lobs up towards mid on, where Rachin Ravindra backtracks and takes a good catch. Samson walks back for 6 off 5, and India are 6/1, chasing 209 runs.

Short of a length and on off, Samson dabs it to point.

BEATEN! Good length and in that channel outside off, shaping away, Samson pushes at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

DROPPED AND SIX! That is a huge moment. Fuller and on the pads, Sanju Samson picks it up and flicks it away but does not get the timing right. Devon Conway at deep square leg comes a bit forward and then tries to grab it above his head with a reverse cup but only manages to parry it over the fence for a biggie.

Right on the money! Matt Henry starts with a back-of-a-length delivery, on middle, Sanju Samson rides the bounce and pats it down the pitch.