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2nd T20I | New Zealand vs India T20I Series 2026 | New Zealand | Saturday, 24 October 2026
India took the opener at Hagley Oval by four wickets, hunting down 230 after the hosts posted 225 for 4, and bowlers on both sides took heavy punishment. Both attacks conceded over 220 runs, so pressure sits on them. The second game on 24 October will hinge on which attack adjusts first. Arshdeep and Bhuvneshwar must tighten up for India, while Santner and Bracewell shape the home plan. Two spinners were absent last time and may return. Here is who to watch and why.
India got to 230 for 6 with two balls to spare, their biggest successful chase in the format, after New Zealand had set them 225. Every Indian bowler conceded at ten runs an over or more, with Axar Patel going for 51, Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 49, Arshdeep Singh for 45 and Mayank Yadav and Nitish Reddy for 40 apiece. Only Axar, Arshdeep and Mayank took a wicket each, while Bhuvneshwar and Nitish finished empty-handed.
The scoring was far above the norm for the ground. Across 15 earlier T20Is at Hagley Oval, first-innings totals averaged about 161 and second-innings totals 145, so totals of 225 and 230 were extraordinary. Expect both captains to demand tighter lengths next time.
For India, the figures from the opener are a warning. Bhuvneshwar went wicketless at 12.25 an over, Axar conceded 12.75 and Arshdeep 11.25, while Mayank and Nitish held their economy at 10.00. For New Zealand, Santner and Bracewell took two wickets apiece for 39 and 37, and Matt Henry gave away only 38 without a wicket.
Milne took one wicket for 42 and Ferguson one for 44, so the home pace pair were costlier than the spinners. Every row below comes from the first T20I, and it shows how little separated the attacks despite the gap in wickets.
| Bowler | Team | Economy | Overs & Runs | Wickets |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 12.25 | 4-0-49 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | India | 12.75 | 4-0-51 | 1 |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | 11.25 | 4-0-45 | 1 |
| Mayank Yadav | India | 10.00 | 4-0-40 | 1 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | India | 10.00 | 4-0-40 | 0 |
| Mitchell Santner | New Zealand | 9.75 | 4-0-39 | 2 |
| Michael Bracewell | New Zealand | 9.25 | 4-0-37 | 2 |
| Matt Henry | New Zealand | 9.50 | 4-0-38 | 0 |
| Adam Milne | New Zealand | 10.50 | 4-0-42 | 1 |
| Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand | 11.00 | 4-0-44 | 1 |
Bhuvneshwar Faces a Test of Form
Bhuvneshwar owns 90 T20I wickets at an average of 23.10 and an economy of 6.96, and he took 28 wickets in 16 games during the 2026 IPL. That record explains why the selectors trusted him in the opener, even though his last T20I before this series came on 22 November 2022.
His return of none for 49 from four overs was costly, though one bad night rarely cancels a record like that. He is in the predicted XI for the second match, and a quick reset on length would calm a bowling group that leaked heavily.
Neither Varun nor Kuldeep played in the first match. Varun had a side strain in September after a hamstring injury in July, bowled one for 16 against Afghanistan and finished the 2026 World Cup with 14 wickets. His fitness clearance remains unconfirmed, which keeps his place uncertain.
Kuldeep conceded 86 runs in eight overs against West Indies for three wickets, an economy of 10.75, and has 95 T20I wickets at an average of 13.74. India’s attack lacks a wrist-spinner, and either man would change the balance of the side on a flat surface, and the selectors know it.
Santner captains a squad that also features Allen, Conway, Jamieson, Phillips and Seifert alongside the bowlers already named. Milne returns after an injury kept him out of the World Cup, while Ravindra, Sears and O’Rourke are unavailable. In the opener, Bracewell removed Abhishek and Santner dismissed both Samson and Kishan.
Those three wickets show where New Zealand will look for early breakthroughs, since all three are key names in the India batting group. The match starts at 8:00 PM in New Zealand, 12:30 PM IST, and 7:00 AM GMT, and anyone following the New Zealand vs India T20I series 2026 bowlers should watch whether Santner and Bracewell can repeat that early damage.
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Who are the best India bowlers right now?
Arshdeep Singh has taken 35 T20I wickets this year. Varun claimed 14 during the World Cup, Kuldeep has 95 career wickets at 13.74, and Bhuvneshwar owns 90 at an economy of 6.96.
Is Bhuvneshwar Kumar playing the second T20I?
Yes, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to play the second T20I. He took none for 49 in the opener and sits in the predicted XI for Saturday, after nearly four years away from the format.
Which bowlers lead the New Zealand attack?
Santner, Bracewell, Henry, Milne and Ferguson shared the load in the first T20I alongside Smith. Jamieson and Duffy are in the squad as extra options for the hosts.
What time does the second T20I start?
The second T20I starts at 8:00 PM New Zealand time on Saturday 24 October. That is 12:30 PM in India and 7:00 AM GMT, so fans in Asia and Europe can follow it live.
Which bowling attack is better?
The first T20I gave no clear answer. India conceded 225 with every bowler going for ten runs an over or more, while New Zealand gave up 230, so neither attack has an edge yet.
