India Dominates Bowling; Bumrah Rested, Axar Sidelined by Injury
In an exciting T20I cricket match, India faced New Zealand in Raipur. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision was influenced by the dew on the pitch, which both teams recognized as a factor. This match marked India’s 100th T20I on home soil and only the second ever played in Raipur.
Match Details
- Date: January 23, 2026
- Location: Raipur, India
- Toss Winner: India
- Series Status: India leads 1-0 in the five-match series
Team Changes
India made two significant changes to their lineup. Axar Patel, who sustained a finger injury during the first T20I, was unavailable. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah was rested. Replacements included Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana, with Rana providing batting depth at No. 8.
New Zealand also adjusted their squad, introducing three new players. Tim Seifert replaced Tim Robinson, Zak Foulkes came in for Kristian Clarke, and Matt Henry took the place of Kyle Jamieson.
Playing XI
| India | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| 1. Abhishek Sharma | 1. Tim Seifert (wk) |
| 2. Sanju Samson (wk) | 2. Devon Conway |
| 3. Ishan Kishan | 3. Rachin Ravindra |
| 4. Suryakumar Yadav (capt) | 4. Daryl Mitchell |
| 5. Hardik Pandya | 5. Glenn Phillips |
| 6. Shivam Dube | 6. Mark Chapman |
| 7. Rinku Singh | 7. Mitchell Santner (capt) |
| 8. Harshit Rana | 8. Matt Henry |
| 9. Kuldeep Yadav | 9. Zak Foulkes |
| 10. Arshdeep Singh | 10. Ish Sodhi |
| 11. Varun Chakravarthy | 11. Jacob Duffy |
Pitch Conditions
The pitch at Raipur features a straight boundary measuring 75 meters. The square boundaries are shorter at 68 meters. Conditions were conducive for bowling, prompting both teams to prioritize this strategy in their gameplay.
As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on how India leverages their bowling dominance, especially with Bumrah rested and a new squad dynamic in play.
