India claimed a stunning victory in the second game of the five-match T20I series against the hosts New Zealand to take a strong 2-0 lead in the series.
Hagley Oval (Christchurch) hosted the second T20I too, where India chose to field first. After losing early wickets, New Zealand scored a challenging total of 180/5 in 20 overs. Although India were losing regular wickets while chasing, the Indian middle-order batters stunned in the late stages of the game to snatch a memorable four-wicket win in 19.5 overs.
New Zealand vs India 1st T20I 2026/27: India Create History With Their Highest Successful T20I Chase
Arshdeep Singh shined; Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs rescued New Zealand
New Zealand lost their three wickets inside the powerplay. However, Glenn Phillips scored his second consecutive half-century, scoring 70 off 43 balls (four fours and four sixes), and Bevon Jacobs played a knock of 58 off 46 balls (five fours and one six), as their 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket set the hosts to manage a strong challenging total. Michael Bracewell finished the innings with 10 runs not out off two balls, hitting one four and a six.
Among the Indian bowlers, only Arshdeep Singh managed to pick up more than one wicket, as India’s leading T20I wicket-taker had the good bowling figures of 4-0-33-2.
India lost 5 wickets for 20 runs after positive start
In reply, India were losing wickets at regular intervals, struggling at 112/6 in 14.5 overs. Although Indian openers Sanju Samson (14) and Abhishek Sharma (27) provided another positive start with a 40-run partnership for the first wicket, the visitors then failed to provide solid battles, especially in the post-powerplay, losing the first five wickets for only 20 runs.
Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy record-breaking partnership sealed win after Namad Dhir's cameo
From 70/5, Naman Dhir had a cameo of 31 off 17 balls with one four and three sixes, as he had a 42-run sixth-wicket partnership with the match hero Tilak Varma. While India needed 69 runs off 31 balls with only four wickets in hand, Tilak had a record-breaking partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy to snatch a stunning victory.
Tilak and Nitish had a 69-run partnership for the unbroken seventh wicket, which became a new record for India’s highest T20I partnership for seventh or lower wickets, and that proved enough for the visitors' stunning win. The previous record was a 63-run partnership for the unbroken seventh wicket between Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2019.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had the impressive bowling figures of 4-0-21-4, but the brilliance of Tilak and Nitish set the game's tone. While the Player of the Match Tilak scored 51 not out off 26 balls (six fours and one six), Nitish scored 26 not out off 13 balls (one four and one six).