Ishan Kishan played one of his most destructive T20I innings as India chased a stiff target of 209 against New Zealand in Raipur to lead 2-0 in the five-match series.
Kishan came in at number 3 with India in trouble at 6 for 2 and turned the match around within minutes. The left-hander hit 76 off just 32 balls and turned an early wobble into a one-sided chase.
India had lost both openers cheaply and New Zealand were on top in the powerplay. Kishan responded with fearless strokeplay, taking over the pace and spin from the first encounter.
He raced to his half-century in just 21 balls, the fastest by an Indian against New Zealand in T20Is. That effort bettered Abhishek Sharma’s 22-ball fifty from the previous match of the series.
Kishan’s power play impact was historic. He scored 56 runs off 23 balls inside the first six overs, becoming the first Indian non-opener to score 50 or more runs in a T20I powerplay.
Overall, he is only the third non-opener from full-member teams to achieve the feat. The only batsman ahead is Dion Myers, who scored 60 in a powerplay against Rwanda, while Josh Inglis had made 51 against West Indies in 2025.
The attack left New Zealand searching for answers as the boundaries flowed across the wicket and over midwicket. Kishan’s intention ensured that India was well ahead of the required speed during the chase.
He then added a match-defining century partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav, who played the role of anchor as Kishan continued to attack. The stands virtually sealed the match before the half.
India ended the chase with a whopping 27 balls to spare, underscoring their dominance in the match. The win also gave them a comfortable 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
For Kishan, the innings stood out not just for its speed, but also for its context. Batting as a non-opener in a high-pressure chase, he delivered a rare, powerplay-heavy knock that rewrote the record books.
#IND #Ishan #Kishan #history #Indian #player #achieve #rare #feat