Raipur, Jan 23 (NationPress) New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised the Indian batting lineup for their remarkable performance in chasing down a challenging target of 209 runs with 28 balls to spare. He humorously remarked that even a score of 300 might not suffice against India, highlighting their aggressive batting style and the depth of their batting order on favorable pitch conditions.

In the second T20I, Suryakumar Yadav remained not out at 82, while Ishan Kishan contributed a fiery 76, leading India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory and taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. This chase marked the second-highest successful pursuit in India’s T20I history, only surpassed by India's 211/4 against Sri Lanka in 2009. The Raipur chase also outdid previous successful chases of 209/4 vs West Indies (2019), 209/8 vs Australia (2023), and 204/4 vs New Zealand (2020).

Santner emphasized that competing against a formidable team like India requires heightened bowling efforts, admitting that totals in the 200–210 range no longer guarantee safety. He stated, "Against these guys, 300 may be the target. When facing a side like India that bats deep on a good wicket, we had to try and keep the pressure on, and we need to approach it a bit more aggressively, knowing that 200-210 totals aren't sufficient anymore."

The emphatic victory also set a new record for the largest margin by balls remaining for a full member nation while chasing a target over 200. This surpassed Pakistan’s 24-ball triumph against New Zealand in 2025 and Australia’s 23-ball win over the West Indies in that same year.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Suryakumar opted to bowl, putting New Zealand under pressure. Despite decent starts from both openers, they couldn't capitalize effectively. Rachin Ravindra was the top scorer with 44 off 26 balls, while Santner significantly contributed with an unbeaten 47 off 27 balls, pushing New Zealand's total to 208/6. Zak Foulkes also played a role, remaining not out at 15 off 8.

Santner highlighted the need for finding the right balance in the team while ensuring players are peaking at the correct time. He mentioned that the rotation of players under pressure provided valuable insights for the World Cup preparations. "We still have some players to come back, and it’s essential to ensure they are performing well for the World Cup. We faced a lot of pressure today, which was beneficial for our learning curve," Santner explained.

He added that batting at number seven requires seizing opportunities when the conditions are favorable, balancing his run-scoring responsibilities with his bowling duties on surfaces suited for spin. He concluded by shifting focus to the next venue and the potential impact of dew on play, stating, "My role at seven is to score runs. Today’s pitch and fast outfield were ideal for that, and I need to capitalize since I also bowl. We will see how dew affects the next game."