India captain Suryakumar Yadav opened up about a light-hearted moment of frustration with Ishan Kishan during India’s dominant seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20I at Raipur, revealing how the incident actually reflected the team’s fearless batting philosophy.
Chasing a challenging target of 209, India found themselves under early pressure after losing Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma cheaply, slipping to 6 for 2 inside the Powerplay. What followed next completely changed the course of the match.
Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav launched a stunning counterattack, stitching together a 122-run partnership in just 48 balls for the third wicket. Kishan took charge early, attacking the New Zealand bowlers with confidence and intent, while Suryakumar played the supporting role before accelerating later.
Kishan’s innings was particularly explosive. The left-hander smashed 76 runs off just 32 deliveries, reaching his half-century in only 21 balls. His dismissal, a mistimed shot off Ish Sodhi that resulted in a return catch, came after the game had already tilted heavily in India’s favour.
Suryakumar, on the other hand, carried the innings through and finished unbeaten on a classy 82 off 37 balls. His knock once again underlined his importance to the side, especially with the T20 World Cup at home fast approaching.
Speaking after the match, Suryakumar explained the reason behind his brief moment of annoyance with Kishan during the Powerplay.
He jokingly admitted that he was upset at not getting enough strike early on, but quickly added that Kishan’s fearless approach was exactly what the team expects from its batters. According to the skipper, India want their players to express themselves freely and play with happiness, even if it means taking the game away single-handedly.
The emphatic chase also saw India register a historic record. It became the biggest win by balls remaining for a full-member nation while chasing a target of over 200, surpassing Pakistan and Australia’s previous records set earlier this year.
Earlier in the match, India’s bowlers had a mixed outing. Arshdeep Singh struggled and went wicketless, conceding 53 runs. Hardik Pandya kept things tight and picked up a key wicket, while Harshit Rana impressed with a wicket maiden despite being slightly expensive overall. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy played a crucial role in the middle overs, combining to take three wickets and prevent New Zealand from crossing the 210-mark. Shivam Dube also chipped in with a wicket.
Suryakumar praised the collective bowling effort, admitting that India had anticipated New Zealand to post a total closer to 225 or 230. He credited the bowlers for taking responsibility at crucial moments and keeping the target within reach.
Also Read: India Send Strong World Cup Message with Dominant Win Over New Zealand in First T20I
The Indian captain also highlighted the positive atmosphere within the squad, stating that the team is enjoying its cricket and remains committed to playing an aggressive brand of the game.
With confidence high and form peaking at the right time, India’s fearless approach seems to be clicking perfectly as they build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup.
