India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya bagged a mighty milestone in the second T20I match against New Zealand in Raipur. By stepping onto the field for his 126th appearance, the versatile all-rounder officially became India’s second-most capped player in the format. In doing so, he surpassed the legendary Virat Kohli, who ended his illustrious T20I career with 125 caps. Currently, only former captain Rohit Sharma stands ahead of Pandya, holding the record with 159 appearances before his retirement from the format in 2024.
Hardik Pandya, second most capped Indian player in T20Is
Pandya’s climb to the top of the appearance list is a testament to his enduring value as a dual-threat player. Over his 126 matches, he has amassed 2,027 runs at an average of 28.54, highlighted by a top score of 71 not out. His contributions with the ball have been equally vital, as he has claimed 102 wickets at an average of 26.85. He continues to prove his worth in the current series, having delivered a quickfire 25 off 16 balls and taking 2 for 20 in the opening match against the Black Caps.
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This milestone further solidifies an elite group of Indian cricketers, as Pandya is one of only four players to have crossed the 100-match threshold in T20Is, joining Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav. Interestingly, the series opener also served as a landmark occasion for the current captain, Suryakumar, who became the fourth Indian to reach the 100-cap milestone. With 2,788 runs at an impressive average of 35.29, including four centuries, Yadav currently sits as India's third-highest run-scorer in the history of the format.
Santner's unbeaten 47 steers New Zealand to 208/6
Talking about the match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner provided a late-innings surge to propel the visitors to a robust total of 208/6. Santner remained unbeaten with a sharp 47 off just 27 deliveries, a knock highlighted by six boundaries and a six. Earlier in the innings, Rachin Ravindra fell just short of a milestone, dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav for 44, while Daryl Mitchell was removed by Shivam Dube as India searched for breakthroughs in the middle overs.
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The New Zealand innings began with explosive momentum, spearheaded by Devon Conway, who punished Arshdeep Singh for 18 runs in the very first over. Conway appeared set for a massive score, but Harshit Rana provided a vital breakthrough in the fourth over, dismissing the opener for 19 and dismantling a dangerous partnership with Tim Seifert. Shortly after, the momentum shifted further in India's favor as Varun Chakaravarthy removed Seifert for 24.
Despite the strong start, India’s spinners managed to apply pressure during the middle period. In addition to his dismissal of Ravindra, Kuldeep Yadav struck another significant blow by removing the dangerous Glenn Phillips for 19. While these wickets helped stem the flow of runs temporarily, Santner’s late-game heroics ensured that the visitors set a challenging target for the Indian side.
India (Playing XI):
Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
New Zealand (Playing XI):
Devon Conway, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy