India enters the second T20 International against New Zealand in Raipur today, January 23, 2026, with the aim of doubling their series lead. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
India's Dominant Start
India secured a convincing 48-run victory in the series opener in Nagpur. After being put in to bat, the Men in Blue posted a formidable total of 238/7. Opener Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a blistering 84 off 35 balls, while Rinku Singh provided a late surge with a quickfire 44 off 20 deliveries. The Indian bowlers then restricted New Zealand to 190 in their 20 overs. Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube each picked up 2 wickets, with Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel taking one apiece.
New Zealand Seeks a Comeback
New Zealand will be looking to bounce back after their defeat in the first T20I. Despite the loss, there were some positives for the Black Caps. Glenn Phillips played a superb innings, smashing 78 off 40 balls. Jacob Duffy impressed with the ball, claiming two wickets. New Zealand will aim to fine-tune their batting and bowling strategies to level the series.
Key Preparations for the T20 World Cup
This five-match T20I series holds significance for both India and New Zealand as they prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. With the World Cup approaching, both teams will use this series to experiment with different combinations and identify key players.
Venue and Pitch Report
The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur is known to be a well-balanced track that supports both batsmen and bowlers. The average first innings score in T20 matches at this venue is around 150-160. Spinners are expected to play a key role.
Players to Watch
- India: Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh
- New Zealand: Glenn Phillips
Series Schedule
- 1st T20I: January 21, 2026, Nagpur (India won by 48 runs)
- 2nd T20I: January 23, 2026, Raipur
- 3rd T20I: January 25, 2026, Guwahati
- 4th T20I: January 28, 2026, Visakhapatnam
- 5th T20I: January 31, 2026, Thiruvananthapuram
As India looks to extend their lead and New Zealand aims to level the series, fans can anticipate an exciting contest in Raipur.
