India face New Zealand in the 2nd T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, from 12:30 pm IST today. Ishan Kishan is out injured; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi likely steps in.
Updated: October 24, 2026, 11:30 IST
Quick Read
- 2nd T20I today, Saturday, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Toss at 12:00 pm IST, first ball at 12:30. Watch on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV — CricTracker’s preview also lists Doordarshan.
- Ishan Kishan misses out with a low-grade strain in his right adductor, per Sunday Guardian. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the likely replacement. India lead the five-match series 1–0.
- Head-to-head figures don’t agree: CricTracker lists 32 T20Is with New Zealand ahead 17–12 (3 no-results); Business Standard has India ahead 20–11 (1 tied). Both are shown below.
India walk out at Hagley Oval this afternoon with a 1–0 lead and one forced change. The second T20I of the five-match series starts at 12:30 pm IST — toss at noon — and if Thursday’s 226-run chase is any guide, expect another run-fest.
On TV it’s the Sony Sports Network; streaming is on the SonyLIV app and website. CricTracker also lists Doordarshan in its broadcast line-up — handy if you don’t have a SonyLIV subscription.
The forced change
Ishan Kishan is out. He picked up a low-grade strain in his right adductor muscle and misses the second T20I, according to Sunday Guardian’s preview published last night. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the likely replacement, and Business Standard’s probable XI has him opening alongside Abhishek Sharma, with Sanju Samson dropping to No. 3.
The probable India XI, per Business Standard: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav. CricTracker’s version names the same eleven, with Dhir and Reddy’s batting slots swapped — a minor difference, worth knowing so the toss-day team sheet doesn’t surprise you.
For New Zealand, Business Standard’s probable XI is: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Why the head-to-head numbers don’t match
One oddity before the match. CricTracker’s preview says the teams have met 32 times in T20Is: New Zealand 17 wins, India 12, no-result 3. Business Standard, previewing the same match, says: New Zealand 11, India 20, tied 1. Both add up to 32.
Neither site explains the gap, and we couldn’t settle it either — databases differ on how they classify certain fixtures. So we’ve printed both. Don’t trust a single site’s head-to-head box today.
Also read
- India’s record 226 chase vs New Zealand: 1st T20I report
- Gill, Iyer split ODI captaincy for New Zealand series
- India vs West Indies 5th T20I washout: series drawn 2–2
What to watch
Thursday was historic — India chased 226, their highest successful T20I chase ever, as we reported. Sanju Samson (67 off 33) was Player of the Match, and Naman Dhir’s 42 not out off 15 balls at No. 7 finished the job. For New Zealand, Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 82 off 40 nearly won it single-handedly.
The worry for both sides is the bowling. India have now conceded 200-plus in four straight completed games, per Business Standard. New Zealand leaked 94 runs in the powerplay and were sloppy in the field. Hagley Oval’s quick outfield and true surface should produce another high-scoring game, per CricTracker’s pitch report — the boundaries are on the bigger side, but the pitch plays honest.
FAQ
- What time does the IND vs NZ 2nd T20I start today?
12:30 pm IST on Saturday, October 24, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The toss is at 12:00 pm IST. - Where can I watch IND vs NZ 2nd T20I live in India?
Live telecast on Sony Sports Network; live streaming on the SonyLIV app and website. CricTracker’s preview also lists Doordarshan. - Why is Ishan Kishan not playing the 2nd T20I?
He has a low-grade strain in his right adductor muscle, per Sunday Guardian’s preview. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the likely replacement in the XI. - What is the India vs New Zealand T20I head-to-head record?
Sources disagree. CricTracker: 32 matches, NZ 17 wins, India 12, 3 no-results. Business Standard: NZ 11, India 20, 1 tied. Both totals add to 32.
Pingback: India chase record 226 to stun New Zealand