India vs New Zealand Prediction & Match Preview – 2nd T20I in Raipur
Match summary
India lead the five-match T20I series after a 48-run win at Nagpur. Preview of the second game in Raipur on 23 January: form, pitch, weather and scores.
Match details
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I |
|---|---|
| Series | New Zealand tour of India 2026 |
| Date | 23 Jan 2026 |
| Start time | 07:00 pm local |
| Venue | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | India |
| Toss pick | New Zealand |
Matches in this series
Match preview
India return to the field in the second T20I of the five-match series with New Zealand at Raipur, having bounced back from a disappointing ODI series defeat. At Nagpur they batted first and made 238 for 7, led by Abhishek Sharma’s 84 off 35 balls with eight sixes at a strike rate of 240. Suryakumar Yadav made 32 from 22, Hardik Pandya 25 from 16 and Rinku Singh finished unbeaten on 44 from 20.
India’s bowlers completed the 48-run victory. Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube took two wickets each, Dube bowling the final over, and Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya picked up one apiece. The one concern is Axar Patel, who injured a finger on a caught-and-bowled chance and is unlikely to play. India could bring in Harshit Rana for extra pace or Ravi Bishnoi for another spinner.
New Zealand showed fight in defeat. After early wickets Glenn Phillips struck 78 off 40, helped by Mark Chapman’s 39 off 24 and Daryl Mitchell’s 28 off 18. Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy took two wickets each, with Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner also among the wickets. The top order remains a worry, though: Devon Conway fell early again and Tim Robinson’s quick 21 was not enough. With Tim Seifert and Finn Allen due back from Big Bash duty, Robinson faces competition for his place.
Raipur generally provides a balanced pitch. Quicks can find bounce and movement early, so the powerplay is important for wickets. The surface slows slightly later, bringing spinners into play and rewarding batters who rotate strike and build partnerships. Dew may make the ball harder to grip in the evening and help the chasing side. Relatively large boundaries mean timing and placement matter more than raw power.
Around 7:00 pm local time on 23 January, Raipur should be clear and pleasant at roughly 22–23°C, cooling gradually through the night. Humidity is moderate and with no significant cloud or rain forecast, the match should go ahead without weather interruption.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–175 | – |
| Second innings | 155–170 | – |
India
India won the opener by 48 runs with a total of 238 for 7 and have deep batting and bowling, though Axar Patel’s finger injury is a concern.
Toss pick: New Zealand
FAQ
Who is expected to win the 2nd T20I between India and New Zealand?
Our preview picks India, who won the first game of the five-match series by 48 runs.
Is Axar Patel fit for this match?
He hurt a finger in the first T20I and is unlikely to play, with Harshit Rana or Ravi Bishnoi the possible replacements.
What is a strong total in Raipur?
Around 170 would be challenging to chase, while below 160 could be difficult to defend.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Line-ups not available yet.
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of India and New Zealand that we covered.