Match overview
India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on 23 January 2026, chasing a target of 209 with minimal drama. New Zealand had posted 208/6, a total that comfortably exceeds this ground's average first-innings score of 155 across 24 T20 matches. India's response was emphatic: 75 runs in the powerplay, then 132 runs for just 1 wicket through the middle overs. By the time the death arrived, India needed only 2 from the final phase. Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match.
The margin flattered the margin, if anything. New Zealand's innings had real substance: 64 runs in the powerplay and 57 in the death overs showed intent across all three phases. The problem was India's middle-over batting. Losing only 1 wicket between overs 7 and 16 while scoring at a rate that made the asking rate irrelevant is not a batting performance that New Zealand's bowlers will forget in a hurry.
This result means India have won four of their last five meetings with New Zealand in 2026, with all four wins coming by comfortable margins. New Zealand's solitary victory in that sequence came in Vizag, where they won by 50 runs.
Venue and conditions
Raipur's Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium has hosted 24 T20 matches, producing an average first-innings score of 155 and an average second-innings score of 148. Both totals in this fixture were well clear of those averages, which points to a surface that played better than usual for batting. The venue's powerplay average is 41 runs; India's opening phase of 75 runs was nearly double that.
The ground has a clear toss bias towards fielding, with 58% of toss winners electing to field. Chasing sides have won 58% of matches here, and both trends held true on Friday. India won the toss, put New Zealand in, and successfully chased. The numbers suggest this pattern is baked into how captains approach Raipur.
Death bowling at this ground has historically produced an average of 40 runs in the final phase. New Zealand managed 57 in that window, which was above par, though it came after the middle overs had already cost them three wickets. India's death phase was almost academic: 2 runs, 0 wickets, match over.
How to watch
India vs New Zealand T20I series are broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV for existing subscribers. For fans without a Sky subscription, NOW TV's day passes offer access to individual matches. Kick-off times for matches in India typically fall in the morning or early afternoon in the United Kingdom, depending on the start time in India.
BBC Radio's Test Match Special occasionally covers high-profile T20I series, particularly when England are involved, but this fixture between India and New Zealand would not ordinarily carry BBC radio commentary. Sky Sports remains the primary UK destination for this series.
Recent form
New Zealand arrive at this point in the series having split their recent record evenly: two wins and three losses against India in 2026, plus a win against West Indies Cricket in 2025. Their victory in Vizag showed they can compete with this India side on their own terms, but the run of form is weighted against them. Four losses in five outings against the same opponent signals a tactical or personnel problem that one good result has not yet resolved.
India's own recent form mirrors that picture from the other direction: four wins from five against New Zealand in 2026, with their only loss coming in that same Vizag fixture. A win over South Africa Cricket in 2025 adds context to a side that has been performing consistently across formats. The next fixture in this series will indicate whether New Zealand can make further inroads or whether India's middle-order dominance is a recurring theme for the remainder of the tour.
