Fri Jan 23 16:30:00 UTC 2026: ### India Clinches T20 Series Lead Against New Zealand in Thrilling Chase
The Story:
India defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets in the second T20 match held on January 23, 2026, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. Chasing a target of 209 runs, the Indian team reached the milestone in just 15.2 overs. Stellar performances from Ishan Kishan (76) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (82*) anchored the innings, securing a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The first T20, played on January 21, 2026, in Nagpur, saw India win by 48 runs.
Key Points:
- The match was held on January 23, 2026, in Raipur.
- India won by 7 wickets, chasing down 209 runs in 15.2 overs.
- Ishan Kishan scored 76 runs, and Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten at 82.
- The partnership between Kishan and Yadav yielded a rapid 122 runs for the third wicket.
- New Zealand scored 208 runs for 6 wickets, with contributions from several batsmen, including Mitchell Santner’s unbeaten 47.
- Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets for India.
- India leads the five-match series 2-0. The next match is on January 25, 2026, in Guwahati.
Key Takeaways:
- India’s strong batting lineup and successful run chases are proving to be a significant advantage in the series.
- The partnerships in the middle order are crucial for India’s success.
- New Zealand needs to improve their bowling attack and defensive strategies to counter India’s aggressive batting style.
- India’s ability to quickly adjust the team composition according to the situation with players like Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana is adding to their advantage.
- India’s victory strengthens their confidence going into the T20 World Cup later in the year.
First Piper 