The series now shifts to Raipur India a then appears to establish a 1-0 advantage A dominant 48-run win at Nagpur. The second T20I for New Zealand is a must-win to stay level in this high-stakes series. The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, one of the largest in the world, presents a completely different challenge with its vast boundary dimensions and a surface that prizes tactical discipline over raw aggression.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Probable Playing XI
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (vc), Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson/Christian ClarkeIsh Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson.
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Pitch Report
The Raipur pitch is known as a balanced, two-paced surface. Early innings, the black offers decent bounce and carry, allowing batsmen to play down the line. However, as the ball loses its luster, the pitch tends to slow down considerably. Spinners often find grip and natural turn here, and pacers who use cutters and slower balls are usually more successful than those who rely on pure pace.
It is one of the most difficult grounds to clear in India with its medium boundaries. Batters must rely on finding gaps and running hard instead of just hitting for power. Heavy evening dew is a common occurrence in Raipur during the month of January. This usually causes the ball to slide and makes it difficult for the bowlers to catch in the second innings, which makes chasing the preferred option for the captain who wins the toss.
Also READ: IND vs NZ: Arshdeep Singh reveals key to thriving on stroke-friendly pitches
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Statistics and Records
Raipur is a relatively new international venue and hosted its first T20I at the end of 2023. The stats reflect the ground where points are competitive rather than record-breaking.
- Total T20I Matches: 1 (India vs Australia, 2023)
- Matches won in first innings: 1
- Matches won in bowling: 0
- Average 1st Shot Score: 174
- Average 2nd Shot Score: 154
- Highest total recorded: 174/9 India vs Australia
- Lowest Overall Record: 154/7 Australia vs India
- Highest Score Pursued: N/A (International)
- Lowest score defended: 174/9 India vs Australia
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