Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy Create Partnership Record To Seal India's Win vs New Zealand (Source: AFP)
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20I in Christchurch on October 24, 2026, to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing 181 runs, India were in trouble at 70/5 before Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy joined forces to guide the team to victory. India reached 181/6 in 19.5 overs, winning the match with one ball remaining.
Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy Rescue India From Trouble vs NZ In 2nd T20I
New Zealand posted 180/5 in 20 overs, Glenn Phillips made 70 off 43 balls at a strike rate of 162.79, and Bevan Jacobs added 58 off 46 balls. Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets for India in 4 fours at an economy rate of 8.25.
India's chase got off to a difficult start as the team kept losing wickets at regular intervals. At one point, India struggled at 70/5. However, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy changed the game with a crucial partnership.
Tilak Varma scored an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls at a strike rate of 196.15, while Nitish Reddy remained not out on 26 off 13 balls at a strike rate of 200.00.
Their 69-run unbeaten partnership off 30 balls for the seventh wicket helped India cross the finish line.
Highest Partnerships for 7th or Lower Wicket for India in T20Is
The 69-run unbeaten stand between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Tilak Varma became India’s highest partnership for the seventh wicket or lower in T20Is.b
- 69* - Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tilak Varma vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 2026 (7th wicket), Tonight*
- 63* - Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya vs New Zealand, Hamilton, 2019 (7th wicket)
- 61 - Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 2009 (8th wicket)
- 59* - Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan vs Sri Lanka, Colombo (RPS), 2009 (8th wicket)
- 59* - Ravichandran Ashwin, MS Dhoni vs Australia, Sydney, 2012 (7th wicket)
India's chase of 181 runs was another notable achievement in Christchurch. The venue's highest successful T20I chase remains India's 230/6 against New Zealand in 2026.
Highest Successful Run Chases in Christchurch in T20Is:
- 230/6 by India vs New Zealand, 2026 (T-226)
- 181/6 by India vs New Zealand, 2026 (T-181) Tonight*
- 177/3 by Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 2022 (T-174)
.jpg?type=mq "Abhishek Sharma saved by a no-ball")
