Raipur, Jan 22 (UNI) India’s Abhishek Sharma is already making headlines after his explosive 35-ball 84 in the first T20I against New Zealand, and all eyes will be on him again as the two sides clash in the second match of the five-match series at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Friday at 7:00 PM IST.
India dominated the series opener in Nagpur by 48 runs, posting a massive 238/7. Abhishek’s breathtaking innings, featuring eight towering sixes, set the tone, while Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 44 off 20 balls ensured India crossed 230.
Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) and Hardik Pandya (25 off 16) provided crucial support.
With the ball, Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube picked two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya chipped in with one each, keeping New Zealand under pressure and restricting them to 190/7.
India could be without Axar Patel in Raipur after he injured his finger attempting a caught-and-bowled in Nagpur. He is expected to be replaced by either Harshith Rana if India opts for a pacer or Ravi Bishnoi if they go with a spin-heavy lineup.
New Zealand, chasing a steep 239, struggled at the top as early wickets put them under immediate pressure. Glenn
Phillips counterattacked with a brilliant 78 off 40 balls, supported by Mark Chapman (39) and Daryl Mitchell (28).
Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy took two wickets each, while Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner contributed one apiece. Despite the loss, New Zealand showed fight and will look to rectify their top-order issues and death bowling concerns in Raipur.
Head-to-head in T20Is, India leads New Zealand 13-10 in 26 encounters, with three matches ending in a tie. Recent form favors India, who have won four of their last five T20Is, including the series opener. New Zealand, meanwhile, have recorded three wins and two losses in their last five T20Is.
The Raipur pitch offers a balanced contest for both batters batsmen bowlers, but chasing has historically been tough. The ground’s large boundaries (75-80 meters) make big hitting difficult, while spinners are likely to play a key role.
With dew expected in the night game, batting in the second innings could become slightly easier. Friday’s weather is forecasted to be sunny with light winds and temperatures around 28°C, providing near-ideal conditions for cricket.
Toss predictions favor the team batting first, as past matches at this venue have shown greater success for the side setting a total. India’s combination of powerful batting, quality spinners, and four top-ranked bowlers gives them a clear edge in Raipur.
Fans will be particularly watching Abhishek to see if he can produce another viral innings, further cementing his credentials ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
