Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy power India to thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand.
The victory in Christchurch gives India a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
The story
At Hagley Oval, India secured a dramatic four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I, chasing down 181 with one ball to spare. New Zealand, after being put in to bat, posted 180/5, largely thanks to a crucial 116-run fourth-wicket partnership between Glenn Phillips (70 off 43 balls) and Bevon Jacobs (58 off 46 deliveries). Arshdeep Singh was India's most effective bowler, taking 2/33.
India's chase got off to a shaky start, finding themselves in deep trouble at 70/5. Mitchell Santner was the wrecker-in-chief for New Zealand, claiming four wickets for just 21 runs. However, Tilak Varma, named Player of the Match, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, supported by a quickfire 26 not out off 13 deliveries from Nitish Kumar Reddy. Their unbroken 69-run partnership off 30 balls steered India to victory.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand vs India | T20I | India won by 4 wickets | Tilak Varma (India) 51* (26) |
Series in play
India tour of New Zealand 2026. India leads the five-match T20I series 2-0.
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | England (1st), India (2nd) | Rankings last updated October 9, 2026. |
| ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 | Australia (1st), New Zealand (2nd), South Africa (3rd), India (5th) | Teams are ranked by percentage of points won; top two teams advance to the final. |
What we'll be watching
- The third T20I between New Zealand and India on October 27, 2026, at Hnry Stadium, Wellington.
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