Kishan And Suryakumar Power India To Record T20 Chase

The floodlights at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium burned bright on January 23, 2026, but it was the dazzling strokeplay of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav that truly lit up the night. In a contest that had all the makings of a classic, India pulled off their joint-highest successful T20I run chase, hunting down New Zealand’s formidable 208 for 6 with a jaw-dropping 28 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand. The win not only gave India a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series but also sent a message to the cricketing world just weeks before the T20 World Cup: this is a team brimming with intent, depth, and fearless batting.

Yet, for all the fireworks, India’s chase began on a shaky note. Sanju Samson, back in the side, managed just 6 runs before falling to Matt Henry, while the promising Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck by Jacob Duffy. After just seven deliveries, India were reeling at 6 for 2. New Zealand, with their tails up, looked primed to seize the initiative. But as it turned out, the night belonged to the hosts—and to one man in particular.

Ishan Kishan, returning to the national setup after a prolific domestic stint, strode in at No. 3 with the scoreboard reading trouble. What followed was an audacious display of modern T20 batting. Kishan wasted no time, launching into Zak Foulkes in the third over with three boundaries and a six—an over that also included three wides and a no-ball, setting the tone for the carnage to follow. By the end of the powerplay, India had rocketed to 75 for 2, the momentum swinging dramatically in their favor.

Kishan’s assault was relentless. He raced to his half-century in just 21 balls, breaking the record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian against New Zealand—a mark set by Abhishek Sharma just a match earlier. His 76 off 32 balls included 11 fours and four towering sixes, all struck at a blistering strike rate of 237.50. The left-hander’s confidence was palpable, and even New Zealand’s spinners, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, found little respite. "I don't know what Ishan had for lunch in the afternoon or what pre-workout he had before the game, but I've never seen anyone bat at 6 for 2 in that manner and still end the powerplay around 67 or 70," Suryakumar Yadav said with a smile at the post-match presentation, underlining the sheer audacity of Kishan’s innings.

While Kishan blazed away, Suryakumar Yadav provided the perfect foil. The Indian captain, who had endured a lean patch with 23 T20I innings without a fifty, looked in sublime touch. Early on, he was content to rotate the strike—though he later joked, "I was angry he didn't give me strike in the powerplay, but that's okay." Once Kishan fell to Ish Sodhi, Suryakumar unleashed his full range, racing to his own half-century in 23 balls. His unbeaten 82 off 37 deliveries featured nine fours and four sixes, and he rode his luck—dropped thrice on 43, 64, and 70—but made every chance count.

The pair’s third-wicket partnership of 122 in just 48 balls utterly flattened the Kiwi attack. When Kishan finally miscued one to square leg, Suryakumar wrapped him in a heartfelt hug—a simple gesture that spoke volumes about camaraderie and mutual respect. As Suryakumar continued, he found an able partner in Shivam Dube, who smashed an unbeaten 36 off 18 balls, including three sixes. Their unbroken 81-run stand sealed the chase in just 15.2 overs, a record for the most balls to spare by a full member in a successful 200-plus T20I chase.

Earlier in the evening, New Zealand’s batters had made hay on a true surface. Devon Conway and Tim Seifert gave the visitors a flying start, putting on 43 in just 20 balls. Rachin Ravindra, with a brisk 44 off 28, and skipper Mitchell Santner, who finished unbeaten on 47 from 27, ensured the Black Caps breached 200. Kuldeep Yadav, stepping in for the injured Axar Patel, was India’s most effective bowler, snaring 2 for 35 and helping stem the flow during the middle overs.

Yet, for all their efforts, New Zealand’s total proved inadequate. "When you come up against a side that bats deep on a really good wicket, that's the way India have come out—with intent from ball one," Santner admitted after the match. "I guess they have a licence for every batter. For us, it's about trying to squeeze wherever we can. But on the flip side, we also know we probably have to go a bit harder, knowing that 200 or 210 isn't enough anymore." His wry suggestion that "300 maybe" was par summed up the challenge of bowling to this Indian lineup.

The victory not only put India 2-0 up in the series but also improved their T20I record to a remarkable 31-5 since their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. The mood in the Indian camp, by all accounts, is buoyant. Suryakumar, reflecting on his own return to form, credited a recent break and productive practice sessions for his performance. "I want to keep them in their happy space. We want to continue playing the same brand of cricket, irrespective of what's happening [with results] and leave no stones unturned," he said, looking ahead to the World Cup.

For now, the focus shifts to Guwahati, where the third match awaits on Sunday. With India in this kind of form, fans will be eager to see if the hosts can clinch the series early—or if New Zealand can muster a response. One thing’s certain: as the countdown to the T20 World Cup continues, India’s batting juggernaut is rolling, and the cricketing world is taking notice.