IND vs NZ: Pitch Report for 2nd T20I, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Stats and Records

The series now shifts to Raipur as India looks to build on their 1-0 lead after a dominant 48-run win in Nagpur. For New Zealand, the second T20I 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, offers a completely different challenge with its enormous border dimensions and a surface that rewards tactical discipline over raw aggression.

IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Likely 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/Kristian ClarkeIsh Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson.

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Field Report

The Raipur pitch is known as a balanced, dual-pace surface. Early in the innings, the black ground offers decent bounce and carry, allowing batters to play through the line. However, as the ball loses its luster, the pitch tends to slow down significantly. Spinners often find grip and natural spin here, and pacers who use cutters and slower balls tend to be more successful than those who rely on pure pace.

With average boundaries, it is one of the most difficult areas to clear in India. Hitters must rely on finding gaps and running hard rather than just power-hitting. Heavy evening dew is a common phenomenon in Raipur in January. This usually makes the ball slippery and difficult to grasp for bowlers in the second innings, making chasing the preferred option for the toss-winning captain.

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Arshdeep Singh reveals the key to success on batting-friendly pitches

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Stats and Records

Raipur is a relatively new international venue, hosting the first T20I at the end of 2023. The statistics reflect an area where the scores are competitive rather than record-breaking.

• Total T20I Matches: 1 (India vs Australia, 2023)
• Matches won first: 1
• Matches won first in bowling: 0
• Average score in the first innings: 174
• Average score in the second inning: 154
• Highest total recorded: 174/9 by India vs Australia
• Lowest total recorded: 154/7 by Australia vs India
• Highest score chased: N/A (international)
• Lowest score defended: 174/9 by India vs Australia

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