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India head into the second T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur riding strong momentum, having taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Following a commanding 48-run win in the opener at Nagpur, the Men in Blue will be eager to strengthen their hold on the contest before the series shifts to Guwahati.
The hosts were inspired by a breathtaking knock from Abhishek Sharma, who hammered 84 off just 35 deliveries in the opening game. Backed by Rinku Singh’s explosive finish at the death and Varun Chakaravarthy’s disciplined spell spearheading the spin attack, India’s build-up to the T20 World Cup appears firmly on course.
New Zealand, meanwhile, endured a shaky start in Nagpur, losing Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra inside the first two overs. Although Glenn Phillips fought back with a spirited 78 to keep them competitive, the visitors will be seeking greater middle-order solidity to either set or chase a challenging target on Raipur’s expansive outfield.
IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Raipur Weather Forecast
For the second T20I in Atal Nagar-Nava Raipur, the weather on Friday, January 23, 2026, is expected to be ideal for cricket. The daytime conditions will be sunny with a high temperature of 28°C, shifting to clear skies at night as the temperature drops to a low of 15°C.
There is a 0% chance of rain for both the day and night sessions, ensuring an uninterrupted game. Humidity is expected to be around 37%, and winds will be light, blowing from the east at 5 mph. Fans can expect a full 40-over contest under clear evening skies.
Also READ: IND vs NZ: Arshdeep Singh reveals the key to thriving on batting-friendly pitches
IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Dew Factor
For the second T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, the dew factor is expected to be a decisive element in team strategy. With sunset scheduled for 5:47 PM and clear skies forecast, substantial moisture is likely to settle on the outfield during the second innings. This makes the ball slippery and difficult for spinners like Chakaravarthy and Santner to grip, significantly disadvantaging the side bowling second. Consequently, the toss becomes critical; the captain winning it will almost certainly opt to bowl first to capitalize on better batting conditions under the lights.
IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Toss Prediction
In Raipur, the toss winner will likely elect to bowl first, driven by three critical factors:
- Ground Dimensions: As one of India’s largest venues, Raipur features massive boundaries (80m+). This forces batters to rely on placement over power, favouring the team chasing as they can better pace their innings against a set target.
- Pitch: The black-soil surface offers true bounce early but tends to grip and slow down. Chasing allows batters to exploit a surface that often becomes more predictable under lights.
- Dew Advantage: Heavy evening dew is a game-changer here. It makes the ball greasy, significantly hindering spinners’ grip and making life difficult for the side defending a total.
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