India will look to take a strong grip on the five-match T20I series when they face New Zealand in the second game at Raipur on January 23, starting 7:00 PM IST. After a dominant win in Nagpur, India hold a 1–0 lead, while New Zealand are already under pressure to level the series.
Raipur is still a new venue in T20I cricket. It has hosted only one men’s T20I before, India vs Australia in 2023. In the most recent ODI here last month, South Africa chased down India’s massive 358, showing the ground can be tough for bowlers if plans slip.
India’s batting remains their biggest strength, especially with the T20 World Cup less than a month away. The top order set the tone in Nagpur, and the middle and lower order once again showed depth and flexibility.
Axar Patel’s fitness is the only concern for the hosts. He picked up a bleeding left index finger in Nagpur. If he is ruled out, Kuldeep Yadav is the likely replacement, though that would slightly reduce India’s batting depth. Washington Sundar would have been the closest like-for-like option, but he is out of the series with a side strain.
India’s probable XI otherwise looks settled. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are set to open, followed by Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh provide power through the middle and death overs, with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh leading the attack.
Rinku’s role at the finish stands out. Nearly 36 percent of his T20I runs have come in overs 19 and 20. Sanju Samson, though, will be keen to rediscover form after a strong 2024 but a disappointing 2025 so far.
New Zealand are expected to stick largely with the same XI, though Matt Henry could come in for one of the fast bowlers. Their batting needs better execution, especially in the middle overs. Glenn Phillips remains a major threat, with 500 T20I runs since 2025 at a strike rate close to 150.
Captain Mitchell Santner will again be key with the ball. He has the third-best T20I spin economy in India at 6.80 and will be vital in trying to slow down India on a batting-friendly pitch.
As one New Zealand camp member put it, “There’s no real try and squeeze a couple of dot-ball moments with this India team. You’ve just got to be on from ball one to win it.”
India continue to dominate T20Is at home even after their World Cup win and are using this series to fine-tune combinations. New Zealand, meanwhile, know they need to tighten small margins quickly if they are to stay competitive across this long five-match series.