India’s cricket captain, Suryakumar Yadav, showcased his return to form ahead of the upcoming World Cup, leading his team to a convincing seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the second Twenty20 International held in Raipur. Alongside Ishan Kishan, who made a rapid 76, Suryakumar’s unbeaten 82 helped India successfully chase down a formidable target of 209 runs with 28 balls to spare, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand set the stage by posting a robust total of 208-6, with captain Mitchell Santner contributing an important 47 runs to the innings. India opted to rest their ace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, and did not include spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel, who had sustained a thumb injury during the series opener.
The New Zealand innings started strong, with openers Devon Conway and Tim Seifert getting off to a decent start before both were dismissed in quick succession. Rachin Ravindra was the standout performer, scoring 44 runs off just 26 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav. Yadav also accounted for Glenn Phillips, who scored 19 runs, as India’s bowlers looked to regroup.
Despite a promising start from New Zealand, late contributions from Santner and Zak Foulkes, who remained not out on 15, propelled the team past the 200-run mark. However, India’s chase faced early trouble, losing Sanju Samson in the first over and then Abhishek Sharma on his first ball.
Ishan Kishan’s explosive innings included four sixes and 11 fours, providing a much-needed counter-attack. Suryakumar Yadav’s innings marked his first fifty in 24 T20 International matches, although it wasn’t without challenges, as he was dropped three times, including a missed opportunity by Santner.
Shivam Dube contributed significantly with an impressive 36 runs off 18 balls, further consolidating India’s strong batting display. The current focus now shifts to Guwahati, where the third match of the series is scheduled to take place on Sunday.