India will take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Friday, January 23. The match is important for both sides as they continue to assess combinations and fine-tune their plans ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
New Zealand are under pressure after losing the opening match. The contest will test squad depth and adaptability. However, both teams have strong batting lineups and varied bowling attacks, and Raipur offers conditions suited to stroke play, so another high-intensity match between the two teams is expected.
This article provides the probable playing XIs of India and New Zealand for the second T20I, likely team combinations, and key players to watch in Raipur.
India Playing XI vs New Zealand 2nd T20I:
Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson
Abhishek Sharma set the tone in the first T20I with a blistering 84 off 35 balls, while Sanju Samson scored 10 runs off 7 balls. They provided stability and attacking options at the top of the order in the powerplay.
Middle-Order Batters and All-Rounders: Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube
Ishan Kishan, who returned to the playing XI, was dismissed for 8 runs off 5 balls. The team might be tempted to include Shreyas Iyer for the match, but they cannot drop Kishan after just one failure.
Suryakumar Yadav will anchor the middle order, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube offering power. Rinku impressed in the opener with an unbeaten 44 off 20, while Axar Patel adds balance with both bat and ball.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy
Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack, Varun Chakaravarthy picked up two wickets in the first T20I, and Arshdeep adds left-arm variety. Bumrah conceded 29 runs in his three overs during the series opener.
India Playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy
New Zealand Playing XI vs India 2nd T20I:
Openers: Tim Robinson and Devon Conway
New Zealand are likely to open with Tim Robinson and Devon Conway (wk). Robinson’s and Conway’s roles at the top will be to provide stability and build a strong foundation. Conway was dismissed for a duck, while Robinson scored 21 runs off 15 balls.
Middle Order and All-Rounders: Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Kristian Clarke
Rachin Ravindra, who scored 1 run off 5 balls, might bat at No. 3 as the team management is expected to persist with him in that position. Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell will provide stability to the middle order.
Phillips will be key in accelerating the innings, while Chapman and Mitchell add balance with both runs and composure. Mitchell Santner and Kristian Clarke add further depth and flexibility to the batting lineup.
Bowlers: Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
Kyle Jamieson’s height and bounce make him a key threat with the new ball, while Ish Sodhi brings spin variation in the middle overs. Jacob Duffy’s consistency and ability to hit good areas will be crucial in applying pressure and taking early wickets.
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
New Zealand arrived with confidence after narrow wins against the West Indies, but the first T20I exposed flaws against India’s depth. Their bowling struggled in the middle overs, making the second T20I vital for a turnaround.
Also read: Tilak Varma return date finalized as India batter nears comeback ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
