Team India won the second T20I against New Zealand by seven wickets on Friday, January 23, at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. The hosts now hold a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Batting first, New Zealand scored 208/6 from their allotted 20 overs thanks to solid contributions from Rachin Ravindra (44), Mitchell Santner (47*) and a few other Kiwi batters. Kuldeep Yadav had missed the first T20I but was given an opportunity in this match and he made the most of it by picking up two wickets for the men in blue.
The New Zealand bowlers then dismissed the home side for 6/2 in 1.1 overs, giving their team an early edge in the second innings. Ishan Kishan played an incredible 76 (32) to revive Indian chase. The flamboyant captain, Suryakumar Yadav (82), too found his groove in grand style as he devoured a half-century to take his team home in a mere 15.2 overs. After Kishan’s departure, Shivam Dube played a cameo of 36 (18).
The high-scoring second T20I between India and New Zealand wowed the crowd on Friday night. They expressed their reactions to the game by posting humorous memes on X. Below are some of the best memes:
Surya Kumar Yadav 50* Banane Ke Baad pic.twitter.com/WuiJqS06SP
— Byomkesh (@byomkesbakshy) January 23, 2026Match ke Baad #indvsnzt20 pic.twitter.com/zR1ErLWS2f
— Byomkesh (@byomkesbakshy) January 23, 2026Only Facts 🏏#indvsnzt20 pic.twitter.com/5g93TIIMJ4
— Byomkesh (@byomkesbakshy) January 23, 2026BCCI managing workload of Bumrah 😂 pic.twitter.com/cqXAAz9n6k
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) January 23, 2026NZ: Abhishek and Sanju out cheaply, we are winning the match
Ishan Kishan: pic.twitter.com/fybaBhJuxU
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) January 23, 2026Justice for Sanju 😢 pic.twitter.com/46TpDaIfqv
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) January 23, 2026India chased 209 in 15.2 overs
All other teams in World Cup: pic.twitter.com/RJDl4OZNVD
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 23, 2026— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) January 23, 2026 Suryakumar Yadav's form, just before the world cup pic.twitter.com/nmXfZhh7Q6
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 23, 2026India vs NZ series 1st two match summary pic.twitter.com/CVjHOjTj1w
— Abhishek (@be_mewadi) January 23, 2026“I was in really good headspace” – Ishan Kishan after his match-winning knock in the 2nd India vs New Zealand 2026 T20I
Indian top-order batsman Ishan Kishan was crowned the Player of the Match for his brilliant knock in the chase. Speaking during the post-match presentation, the southpaw said:
“I was in really good headspace! That helped. Sometimes you understand that you are batting well, but, you have to go according to the situation. However, I was batting in the power play and had to play my strokes. I backed myself. I was just looking to score runs, and it’s important sometimes to do it for yourself.
Kishan continued:
“I got runs in domestic cricket and got more confident. I just asked myself one question – can I do it again or not? The answer was yes! So, I kept it going and kept believing in myself.”
India and New Zealand will now head to Guwahati to play the third T20I of the series on Sunday (January 25) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
