Before the India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I, Sanju Samson was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper and second opener for the T20 World Cup 2026. Well, not anymore. Samson, who’s failed in both matches against New Zealand, hasn’t really been in great touch in T20 cricket since 2025.
Earlier today, Samson was dismissed for 6 in Raipur. That, too, after getting a reprieve via a dropped catch. As if that wasn’t bad enough for Samson, Ishan Kishan smashed a 32-ball 76 in the same game. Forcing head coach Gautam Gambhir to rethink who Abhishek Sharma’s opening partner should be.
Ishan Kishan hits stunning fifty
Kishan was under pressure. In the last match, Kishan scored 8 off 5 on what was his return to international cricket after 786 days. Chasing 209, India was 2 wickets down just seven balls into the chase; Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma had both departed.
Fortunately, the second delivery Kishan faced was a short ball outside off from Zak Foulkes. The southpaw smashed the ball to the boundary. If that wasn’t bad for New Zealand, it turned out to be a no-ball as well. Kishan hit another four off the free hit. In no time, he was 9 (4).
Granted, Foulkes wasn’t bowling well; Kishan hit another four and six in the 3rd over. Jacob Duffy, who had sent in-form Abhishek back, wasn’t spared by him either. The tall pacer gave the wicketkeeper batter room, and Kishan made the most of it.
Sublime striking! Ishan Kishan gets to his fifty in some style Updates t.co/8G8p1tq1RC#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @ishankishan51 pic.twitter.com/x4RK92sjmJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2026Mitchell Santner brought him on to restrict Kishan, but that didn’t work either. A misfield by Foulkes and a full toss cost New Zealand. By the end of the 5th over, Kishan was unbeaten on 41 (19). Matt Henry returned to deliver the final over of the powerplay, but even he couldn’t do much.
Kishan deposited Henry over deep backward square leg for a six and followed that with a hit over covers to bring up his 7th T20I fifty from just 21 balls. His last half-century had come 26 months ago, on November 26, 2023. But he was far from done.
New Zealand introduced Ish Sodhi with the fielder restrictions over. Kishan reverse-swept the leggie and then jumped down the track to slog him over deep mid-wicket. Santner reintroduced himself but was feeling the heat as he started with a rank hop. Kishan deposited over the fence on the leg side.
Kishan wasn’t in any mood to stop. Suryakumar Yadav had just smashed Foulkes for 5 boundaries in the 9th over, and India was on their way to claim an easy victory. Sodhi came back, and Kishan wanted to slog him over deep midwicket again, but all he got was an edge that went to Matt Henry at short fine leg.
Ishan Kishan makes Gautam Gambhir rethink Sanju Samson backing with stunning 76 in IND vs NZ 2nd T20I Inside Sport India.
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