IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Why Ishan Kishan Deserved POTM Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s Bigger Score
Match: India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I
Venue: Raipur
Result: India won by 7 wickets
Series Status: India lead 2–0
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: The Question Everyone Is Asking
When scorecards flash at the end of a T20 match, logic often feels simple:
more runs = Player of the Match.
So when Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 82, and Ishan Kishan scored 76, many fans naturally asked:
Why wasn’t Suryakumar Yadav given the Player of the Match award?
The answer lies not in the total runs, but in timing, pressure, and context.
And this Raipur T20I was all about context.
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India in Trouble: 6 for 2, and a Mountain to Climb
Chasing 209, India’s start was a nightmare.
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Two wickets fell for just 6 runs
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New Zealand bowlers were fired up
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ESPNcricinfo’s win predictor gave NZ an 86.09% chance of victory
This was the exact moment when a chase could have collapsed.
That’s when Ishan Kishan walked in at No. 3.
Ishan Kishan’s 76: The Knock That Changed the Match
What followed was not just aggression — it was controlled destruction.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Kishan’s innings
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76 off 32 balls
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Strike rate: 237+
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11 fours, 4 sixes
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21-ball fifty
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Boundary almost every second ball in the powerplay
He didn’t slog blindly.
He didn’t take reckless risks.
Instead, Kishan snatched momentum away from New Zealand before they could settle.
By the end of the powerplay:
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India were around 75/2
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The chase had completely flipped
When Kishan got out, India’s win probability had jumped to 90.63%.
That swing — from 86% NZ to 91% India — is the heart of this award.
Suryakumar Yadav: The Calm That Finished the Job
Let’s be clear:
Suryakumar Yadav was sensational.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Surya’s innings
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82 off 37 balls*
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9 fours, 4 sixes
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Strike rate above 220
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Looked like the SKY of his prime again
This innings was crucial for:
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Silencing doubts about his form
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Boosting confidence before the T20 World Cup
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Leading from the front as captain
But here’s the key detail many missed 👇
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Why Context Matters More Than Runs
When the century partnership was completed in the 9th over:
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Kishan was on 76 off 30
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Suryakumar was on 19 off 13
Surya himself admitted post-match that he hardly got the strike during Kishan’s assault.
In other words:
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Kishan absorbed the pressure
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Kishan took the early risks
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Kishan dismantled the bowling plans
Suryakumar then did what elite finishers do best — he made sure there was no comeback.
Both roles were vital, but only one came when the match was on a knife-edge.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Surya’s Reaction Says Everything
Instead of a pat on the back, Suryakumar hugged Kishan tightly when he got out.
Later, Surya said:
“I’ve never seen anyone bat like that. To play like that after losing two wickets for six runs… it was incredible. That’s what we want from our batsmen.”
That tells you everything about who shifted the game.
Kishan’s Comeback: More Than Just One Innings
This knock meant more than a POTM trophy.
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Kishan hadn’t played T20Is since November 2023
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Many felt selectors had moved on
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But he answered in domestic cricket:
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517 runs in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
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Strike rate 197.32
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After Raipur, the message was loud and clear:
Ignore me at your own risk.
With the T20 World Cup just days away, Kishan has put himself firmly back in contention — as a No. 3, an opener, or a backup wicketkeeper-batter.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: So, Why Wasn’t Suryakumar POTM?
Because Player of the Match is not about who scored more runs.
It’s about:
✔ Who changed the direction of the match
✔ Who handled the highest pressure
✔ Who broke the opposition’s momentum
In Raipur, that player was Ishan Kishan.
Suryakumar Yadav finished the job brilliantly.
Ishan Kishan made the job easy.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I:What India Gained from Raipur
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Surya rediscovered rhythm and confidence
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Kishan announced his return with authority
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Proof that India can chase big totals even without Abhishek Sharma firing
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A deeper, scarier batting lineup before the World Cup
This wasn’t just a win.
It was clarity.
IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Final Word
On paper, Suryakumar Yadav scored more runs.
On the field, Ishan Kishan changed the match earlier than anyone else.
That’s why the Player of the Match award wasn’t unfair —
it was perfectly judged.
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