Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s crucial contribution powered India to a remarkable chase in Christchurch, giving the visitors a 2-0 series lead.

CHRISTCHURCH, October 24, 2026: India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20 International at Hagley Oval on Saturday, recovering from a difficult position to secure another victory in the five-match series.

Tilak Varma was named Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten 51 off just 26 deliveries, helping India complete a challenging chase after New Zealand’s bowlers had threatened to take control.

India struggled to find boundaries during the early stages of their innings, while New Zealand’s spinners applied pressure through the middle overs. Mitchell Santner claimed four wickets, leaving India needing 68 runs from the final 30 balls.

However, Tilak and Nitish Kumar Reddy displayed composure and attacking intent to turn the contest around. Their partnership shifted the momentum towards India as New Zealand began making costly mistakes with the ball and in the field.

Naman Dhir also made a valuable contribution to India’s recovery before his dismissal, helping keep the chase within reach.

Earlier, New Zealand recovered from a difficult start to their innings through a 116-run partnership between Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs. Phillips led the scoring, while Jacobs provided support as the pair rebuilt the innings and accelerated towards the end.

India’s bowlers and fielders had kept the hosts under pressure during the opening stages, taking advantage of the slower pitch conditions. New Zealand’s top order had struggled to adapt before Phillips and Jacobs steadied the innings.

India captain Shreyas Iyer praised his team’s belief and depth, highlighting the character shown by Tilak and Nitish under pressure. He also acknowledged that dot balls and a shortage of early boundaries had increased the required run rate.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner admitted that his side had lost control towards the end despite performing well for much of the match. He also pointed to costly no-balls as a setback.

The victory marked India’s 200th T20I win in their 300th match in the format, further strengthening their position in the series.

The third T20I is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, in Wellington, with New Zealand needing a response to keep their series hopes alive.