IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy Seal Thriller, India 2-0

At 70 for 5 in the 11th over, chasing 181 at Christchurch's Hagley Oval, India looked beaten. They weren't. Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, a quick 31 from Naman Dhir and a cool 26 not out from Nitish Kumar Reddy took Shreyas Iyer's side home by four wickets with one ball left on Saturday, October 24, and gave India a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

How New Zealand got to 180

Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl, and for the first six overs that decision looked inspired. Arshdeep Singh removed Tim Seifert for 7, with Tilak taking the catch, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar cleaned up Daryl Mitchell for 6. Prince Yadav, playing his first game of the tour, then bowled Finn Allen for 16 in his very first over. New Zealand were 41 for 3 and in trouble.

Then came the partnership that nearly decided the match. Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs added 116 for the fourth wicket, rebuilding patiently before cutting loose at the death. Jacobs had a let-off on about 26 when Iyer put down a chance at mid-off, and he went on to make 58 off 46 balls. Phillips was the aggressor, smashing 70 off 43 balls with four fours and four sixes. Bhuvneshwar went for 50 runs in his four overs, including 18 in the 16th, and New Zealand finished on 180 for 5. Arshdeep was India's best bowler with 2 for 33.

Santner's spell and the slide to 70 for 5

India's chase never settled early. The real damage, though, came from New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, who bowled one of the spells of the series. In the 11th over he removed both Iyer and Axar Patel, leaving India at 70 for 5 and needing more than 11 an over. Santner finished with 4 for 21 from his four overs, and for a while it looked like his spell would be the story of the night.

Dhir lights the fuse

Naman Dhir changed the mood. The Punjab all-rounder struck three sixes in a 17-ball 31, taking the attack straight back to the bowlers and pulling the required rate down. Santner returned to remove him in the 15th over, with Phillips holding the catch, but by then India had the momentum.

Tilak and Reddy finish it off

What followed was a lesson in calm finishing. Tilak, who had looked in control from the start, found the boundary six times and cleared it once on his way to a 25-ball half-century. At the other end, Nitish Kumar Reddy played the supporting role and then grabbed the spotlight himself, scoring 26 off just 13 balls. The pair added an unbroken 69 off 30 balls for the seventh wicket. Fittingly, it was Reddy who hit the winning runs, a two off Jacob Duffy, with one delivery to spare.

Key facts from the 2nd T20I

Changes in the playing XIs

India had to reshuffle before a ball was bowled. Ishan Kishan was ruled out with a groin (adductor) strain, so teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came in at No. 3, and Prince Yadav replaced Mayank Yadav in the pace attack. New Zealand made one change of their own, bringing in Jacob Duffy for Adam Milne.

What this win means for India

This was the second straight four-wicket win for India on this tour. In the first T20I they chased down a target of 225, and on Saturday they chased from a far worse position. Two different chases, two different sets of heroes, and one clear message: this young Indian batting order does not panic.

For Tilak, the innings is another reminder of why the team management trusts him in the middle overs. For Reddy, it was the kind of finishing knock that strengthens his case as the seam-bowling all-rounder in this side. Dhir's cameo also showed that India's lower order can turn games, which matters a lot in New Zealand, where scores of 180-plus are common on true pitches.

There are concerns, though. India's fielding was untidy at times, the dropped chance off Jacobs proved costly, and Bhuvneshwar's expensive final overs will be discussed in the team meeting. Against a stronger New Zealand batting effort, those lapses could make the difference.

What happens next

The teams move to Wellington for the third T20I at Sky Stadium on Tuesday, October 27, with the match scheduled to start at 12:30 pm IST. A win there would give India an unbeatable 3-0 lead with two games still to play. All eyes will also be on Kishan's fitness update and whether Sooryavanshi keeps his place at No. 3.

For New Zealand, the challenge is clear. They have now lost two games they were in a strong position to win, and Santner will want his side to be sharper in the field and at the death if they are to keep the series alive.

Also Read

• India Beat New Zealand by 4 Wickets in 1st T20I: Samson, Dhir Star
• IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Ishan Kishan Ruled Out, Probable XI and Time
• India vs New Zealand T20I Series: Team Lands, Schedule and Squad