Table of Contents
The series now shifts to Raipur as India looks to build on their 1-0 lead following a dominant 48-run victory 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, presents a completely different challenge with its massive boundary dimensions and a surface that rewards 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/Kristian Clarke, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson.
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Pitch Report
The Raipur pitch is known as a balanced, two-paced surface. Early in the innings, the black soil offers decent bounce and carry, allowing batters to play through the line. However, as the ball loses its shine, the pitch tends to slow down significantly. Spinners often find grip and natural turn here and pacers who utilize cutters and slower balls are typically more successful than those relying on pure pace.
With average boundaries of it is one of the toughest grounds to clear in India. Batters must rely on gap-finding and hard running rather than just power-hitting. Heavy evening dew is a common occurrence in Raipur during January. This usually makes the ball skiddy and difficult for bowlers to grip 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 thriving on batting-friendly pitches
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Stats & Records
Raipur is a relatively new international venue, having hosted its first T20I in late 2023. The stats reflect a ground where scores are competitive rather than record-breaking.
- Total T20I Matches: 1 (India vs Australia, 2023)
- Matches won batting first: 1
- Matches won bowling first: 0
- Average 1st Innings Score: 174
- Average 2nd Innings Score: 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
