Raipur: India continued their dominant run in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, winning the second match by seven wickets to take a 2–0 lead in the five-match contest. Beyond the victory, Team India etched their name in the record books, breaking a milestone that Pakistan had long boasted about.
Chasing a daunting 209-run target set by New Zealand, India raced to the finish line in just 15.2 overs with three wickets down. Captain Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 82 off 37 balls, while Ishan Kishan contributed a rapid 76 off 32 deliveries. The chase not only secured a comfortable win but also broke Pakistan’s record for the fastest successful chase of a 200+ run target in terms of balls remaining—a record Pakistan had long held pride in.
Record-Breaking Chase with Balls to Spare
- India achieved the target with 28 balls remaining, setting a new benchmark.
- Previously, Pakistan had chased 205 against New Zealand in Auckland in 2025 with 24 balls to spare.
- Australia had previously chased 205 against West Indies in Basseterre in 2025 with 23 balls remaining.
India’s Biggest T20I Target Chases
- 209 vs New Zealand, Raipur, 2026
- 209 vs Australia, Visakhapatnam, 2023
- 208 vs West Indies, Hyderabad, 2019
- 207 vs Sri Lanka, Mohali, 2009
- 204 vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2020
- 202 vs Australia, Rajkot, 2013
This victory not only gave India their highest successful chase against New Zealand but also tied their all-time biggest T20I chase record, which was previously achieved against Australia three years ago. By smashing through the target with such authority and with overs to spare, India sent a clear message to all rivals, including Pakistan, that they are a force to be reckoned with in high-pressure chases.
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan’s explosive partnership ensured that India’s pursuit was never in doubt, turning what began as a challenging chase into a record-breaking display of batting brilliance.