IND vs NZ 2nd T20 2026: Comprehensive Match Preview
India is set to face New Zealand in the second T20 International of their five-match series, with the action unfolding at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026, the match will commence at 7:00 PM IST. This encounter follows India's commanding 48-run victory in the first T20I, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.
Series Context and Team Momentum
India enters this match with significant momentum, having not lost a T20I series since their triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. A win here would mark their 15th consecutive series victory, a remarkable feat as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. In the opening game, standout performances included Abhishek Sharma's explosive 84 off 35 balls, complemented by impactful contributions from Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya in the latter overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also showed promising signs of regaining form with a brisk 22-ball 32.
However, New Zealand is expected to bounce back strongly, reminiscent of their performance in the preceding ODI series. After losing the first ODI, the Kiwis rallied to win the next two matches, securing their first-ever ODI series win in India. This resilience suggests that the second T20I could be a tightly contested affair.
Predicted Playing XIs
India Predicted XI: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand Predicted XI: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Head-to-Head Record and Pitch Report
In T20 Internationals, India and New Zealand have clashed 26 times, with India holding a slight edge with 16 wins compared to New Zealand's 10 victories. The pitch at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur is anticipated to be batting-friendly, offering good bounce and pace, which could favor high-scoring encounters. Spinners might come into play as the match progresses, making team strategies crucial.
Live Streaming and Telecast Details
The India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website, with telecast available on the Star Sports network. Coverage begins at 7:00 PM IST on Friday, January 23, 2026.
Full T20I Series Schedule
- 1st T20I: January 21 (Wednesday), 7 PM IST at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
- 2nd T20I: January 23 (Friday), 7 PM IST at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur
- 3rd T20I: January 25 (Sunday), 7 PM IST at ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- 4th T20I: January 28 (Wednesday), 7 PM IST at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
- 5th T20I: January 31 (Saturday), 7 PM IST at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Squad Lists
India T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand T20I Squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Kristian Clarke.
