Abhishek Sharma was handed the ball, and he did a good job in the first four deliveries, conceding four runs. However, in the next two balls, the spinner bowled half-volleys to Daryl Mitchell, who slammed two fours down the ground.

NZ 111-3 (10)

Kuldeep Yadav has removed Glenn Phillips! This is a much-needed wicket for India, as the third-wicket partnership had put them under a lot of pressure. Phillips and Rachin Ravindra added 55 runs off 27 balls. Phillips tried to play a slog-sweep but got a leading edge as the ball went towards backward point.

Glenn Phillips c Hardik Pandya b Kuldeep Yadav 19(13)

NZ 98-3 (8.5)

That is yet another stunning shot from Rachin Ravindra for a six. He fetched Varun Chakravarthy's delivery from outside the off stump and slow‑swept it for a biggie over the cow corner. Sixteen came off the over.

NZ 84-2 (8)

Varun Chakravarthy bowls a good length, and Rachin Ravindra smashes it away for a biggie. That went over deep cow corner for a six. This is good batting from Ravindra. He moves to 27 off 15.

NZ 74-2 (7.1)

Harshit Rana was smashed for 19 runs in this over. Rachin Ravindra slammed the India pacer for two sixes and one four. New Zealand continue to attack despite losing two wickets in the powerplay. This is a really good batting surface, and the side will need at least 200 on the board to challenge India.

NZ 64-2 (6)

The second wicket goes down for New Zealand! Tim Seifert is OUT! He wanted to tonk Varun Chakravarthy’s delivery for a biggie but ended up edging it high in the air. Ishan Kishan settled under it and took the catch at wide of mid-on.

Seifert c Ishan Kishan b Varun Chakaravarthy 24(13)

NZ 43-2 (4.2)

OUT! Harshit Rana provides a crucial breakthrough to India as New Zealand were off to a flying start. He outfoxed Devon Conway with a slower delivery, and the batter ended up ballooning it to Hardik Pandya at mid-off.

Devon Conway c Hardik Pandya b Harshit Rana 19(9)

NZ 43-1 (3.2)

India captain Suryakumar Yadav persisted with Arshdeep Singh and the pacer leaked 18 runs again. He has given a total of 36 runs so far in his two overs. Harshit Rana will start bowling from the other end.

NZ 43-0 (3)

Seven runs came off Hardik Pandya’s over. He bowled tight lines to Tim Seifert as the batter struggled to get going. After three dot balls, Seifert played a lap shot for four, then took a couple followed by a single to retain the strike.

NZ 25-0 (2)

Arshdeep Singh leaked 18 runs in the very first over. Devon Conway smashed the India pacer for three fours and a six. A misfield from Ishan Kishan at cover-point added to Arshdeep’s troubles.

NZ 18-0 (1)

Arshdeep Singh is ready with the new ball. Devon Conway will face him, with Tim Seifert at the other end. Here we go... The left-arm pacer starts with a fuller ball, swinging away from the batter. Conway goes for a drive and misses it.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was spotted guiding Harshit Rana as the pacer was warming up on the ground. Rana sat out of the playing XI in the first game but has got an opportunity tonight as Jasprit Bumrah has been rested.

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

"We would have also bowled. Every time you play against a quality side in their conditions, you learn something. We have three changes - Seifert comes in for Robinson, Clark is out and Foulkes comes in, Matt Henry is also in," said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.

"We are going to bowl first. There is already little bit of dew out there, we haven't chased in recent times, so we want to chase. It looks good. We play every game, we try and improve on every aspects, we will try and do same things in every department. We have two changes - Axar got hit last night, (Jasprit) Bumrah is resting," said Suryakumar Yadav.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first in Raipur. The hosts have rested Jasprit Bumrah, while Axar Patel is also out due to injury, Suryakumar informed at the toss.

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav had a poor 2025 at the highest level. He started well this year with a 32-run knock off 22 balls against New Zealand in the first T20I. Suryakumar could not take his innings deep but looked in vintage touch. He will aim to carry that momentum tonight and score big in Raipur.

Abhishek Sharma shone with a sensational knock as India outplayed New Zealand by 48 runs in the opening T20I on Wednesday. Riding on a brutal 35-ball 84 from Abhishek, the hosts posted a massive 238 for seven after being invited to bat first. Apart from Abhishek, Rinku Singh (44 not out off 20 balls), Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22 balls), and Hardik Pandya (25 off 16 balls) also chipped in with useful contributions. For the Black Caps, Jacob Duffy was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 27. In the chase, New Zealand were restricted to 190 for 7. Varun Chakaravarthy and Shivam Dube claimed two wickets apiece.

A commanding performance! #TeamIndia win by runs in Nagpur to take a - lead in the 5-match T20I series
Scorecard https://t.co/ItzV352h5X#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/BuAT0BluHk

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026

Axar Patel suffered an injury to his forefinger while trying to stop a shot from Daryl Mitchell on Wednesday. Such was the seriousness of the injury that the all-rounder was quickly taken off the ground with a bleeding finger. In case he is unavailable for the match tonight, will he be replaced by Kuldeep Yadav?

India Squad: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav.

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway(w), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Michael Bracewell, Zakary Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs.

Hello everyone, welcome to this space! India take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur tonight. Stay connected for live scores and updates related to the game.