Suryakumar Yadav’s 82* Off 37 Seals 2-0 Series Lead/sbkinews.in
Suryakumar Yadav roared back to form with an unbeaten 82 off 37 balls, powering India to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 2nd T20I at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, breaking Pakistan’s record for most consecutive T20I wins at home (previously 10) while surging to 2-0 up in the five-match series.
The skipper’s masterful knock—featuring nine fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 221.62—chased down New Zealand’s 180/5 with 23 balls to spare, extending India’s home T20I winning streak to a record 11 under multiple captains, as openers Abhishek Sharma (34 off 19) and Shubman Gill (27 off 17) laid the platform before SKY’s acceleration from 90/2 dismantled the Black Caps’ total.
This clinical performance, following Abhishek’s 84 in the opener, showcases India’s depth amid white-ball transitions post-Rohit Sharma, silencing critics after recent ODI losses while exposing New Zealand’s bowling frailties on a flat Raipur deck.
India’s chase exemplified modern T20 dominance, blending Powerplay fireworks with middle-over control.
Suryakumar Yadav’s 82* Off 37 Seals 2-0 Series Lead/sbkinews.in
Suryakumar Yadav’s Captain’s Knock: 82* Masterclass
Suryakumar Yadav entered at 67/2 in the 8th over needing 114 off 72 and transformed the game, scoring at over 13 runs per over with innovative 360-degree shots including ramps, scoops, and inside-out lofts against spin. His unbeaten 82 off 37 (9×4, 4×6) formed partnerships of 54 with Tilak Varma (26 off 18) and 36* with Rinku Singh (11* off 5), finishing the chase in style with a six off Tim Southee.
SKY Innings Breakdown:
| Phase | Runs/Balls | SR | Boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-15ov | 42/19 | 221 | 5×4, 2×6 |
| Acceleration | 40/18 | 222 | 4×4, 2×6 |
Post-match: “Raipur loves me—back to my best. Team effort broke records.”
India’s Record-Shattering Home Streak: Pakistan Toppled
India now holds the longest home T20I winning streak:
| Team | Streak | Span |
|---|---|---|
| India | 11 | 2024-2026 |
| Pakistan | 10 | 2018-2022 |
| NZ | 9 | 2020-2023 |
Recent Wins: Aus (4), Ban (3), NZ (1st T20I)—11 straight. Pakistan’s record fell despite their strong subcontinental record.
Suryakumar Yadav’s 82* Off 37 Seals 2-0 Series Lead/sbkinews.in
Complete Match Scorecard: NZ 180/5 vs India 184/2
New Zealand 180/5 (20 overs):
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rachin Ravindra | 42 | 32 | c Gill b Arshdeep |
| Daryl Mitchell | 31 | 24 | b Bishnoi |
| Glenn Phillips | 28* | 20 | not out |
| Tim Seifert | 36 | 22 | c SKY b Axar |
India Bowling Stars:
| Bowler | O | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi Bishnoi | 4 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
India 184/2 (16.5 overs):
Abhishek Sharma: 34 (19b, 4×4, 2×6) – run-out.
*Suryakumar Yadav: 82 (37b, 9×4, 4×6)**.
Tilak Varma: 26 (18b, 2×4, 1×6).
Fall: 51/1 (Gill), 67/2 (Abhishek).
Powerplay Fireworks: Abhishek-Gill Platform
Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill plundered 51/1 in Powerplay (NZ’s worst since 2022), with Abhishek’s 34 including back-to-back sixes off Boult and Gill’s pull shots exploiting short balls. Their 51-run stand in 4.4 overs set SR 184—ideal launchpad for SKY.
Powerplay Stats: India 51/1 vs NZ 42/2 (previous match).
Suryakumar Yadav’s 82* Off 37 Seals 2-0 Series Lead/sbkinews.in
Raipur Pitch Report: Batter’s Paradise
Shaheed Veer Singh Stadium averaged 195 first innings this season, with short boundaries favoring aggression. Minimal dew aided spinners (Econ 6.1); par 175—NZ’s 180 5 short.
Venue T20I Stats:
Avg 1st inns: 182.
7/8 chases won batting second.
New Zealand’s Batting Struggles: Middle-Order Misfire
NZ started 74/1 but lost Mitchell (lbw Bishnoi flipper) and Seifert (caught SKY), managing 106/4 middle phase. Phillips’ late 28* insufficient vs India’s spin choke (43/3 in overs 7-15).
Collapse Trigger: Bishnoi’s 16th over—two wickets.
Suryakumar Yadav’s 82* Off 37 Seals 2-0 Series Lead/sbkinews.in
India’s Bowling Intelligence: Spin Trap
Ravi Bishnoi (2/28) and Axar Patel (1/21) conceded just 49 off 8 overs, varying pace and exploiting grip. Arshdeep’s Powerplay strikes (Williamson early) set tone.
Spin Economy: 6.12 RPO—NZ’s weakness exposed.
Captaincy Contrast: SKY’s Aggression Wins
Suryakumar Yadav promoted himself at No.3, setting attacking fields (two slips early) and rotating spinners ruthlessly. NZ’s Williamson passive—deep fields leaked 10 singles/over.
Gill Post-SKG Era: 7/7 T20I wins as captain.
Series Context: India’s NZ T20I Supremacy
Head-to-Head: India 16-5 post-win.
NZ Tour Arc: ODI loss (2-3), T20I dominance (2-0). 3rd T20I Tauranga next.
Suryakumar Yadav’s 82* Off 37 Seals 2-0 Series Lead/sbkinews.in
Player Form Tracker: Abhishek-SKY Axis
Abhishek Sharma (Last 4 inns): 84, 34, 102*, 215 runs @SR210.
SKY: 82* ends mini-slump; T20I avg now 48.
Fan Euphoria: Raipur Roar & Record Celebrations
15,000 fans chanted “SKY-SKY”; #India11Wins trends 2.5M. Memes: Pakistan record “shattered like Shaheen’s yorkers.”
Global Pundit Praise
Ian Smith: “SKY unplayable—NZ outcoached.” Gavaskar: “Pakistan who? India’s home fortress.”
Tactical Edges: Why India Dominated
Powerplay SR: 184 vs NZ 130.
Dot Balls: 28 vs NZ’s 22 forced.
Fielding: 2 run-outs pressure.
Record Bonanza: Multiple Milestones
India’s 100th home T20I win.
SKY 1500th T20I run.
Fastest 50-run stand vs NZ (4.2 ov).
Youth Boost: Post-Rohit Transition Triumph
SKY-Gill-Abhishek trio: 200+ runs last 2 games combined.
NZ Post-Mortem: Williamson Under Pressure
Captain: “Batted 10 short; spin our Achilles.” 0-2 hole deepens.
Statistical Deep Dive
Chase Success: India 82% win rate chasing 180+ (T20Is).
SKY vs NZ: 245 runs @SR165.
Economic Impact: Series Viewership Surge
450M impressions; Raipur hospitality $2M boost.
Future Stakes: Clean Sweep Path
3rd T20I: India favorites 75%. T20 WC 2026 prep perfect.
“SKY’s 37-ball fireworks bury Kiwis—India leads 2-0. In-depth breakdown, highlights.—SBKINEWS insights.”
