India recovered from 70 for 5 to chase down 181 and seal a four-wicket victory at Hagley Oval, with Gambhir posting a three-word tribute to his young match-winners.
India pulled off a remarkable four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 2nd T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Chasing a target of 181, the visitors found themselves in serious trouble at 70 for 5 in the 11th over after having started steadily at 40 for 0. Three young batters then combined to take India over the line with one ball to spare, sealing a 2-0 series lead.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir marked the occasion by posting photographs of Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy on his X account after the match. His caption read: "Boys becoming Men". The three-word tribute pointed directly at the performances from three youngsters that turned the chase around when the innings appeared to be slipping away.
How India turned the chase around
Naman Dhir walked in during the crisis and scored 31 off 17 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. He was dismissed in the 15th over, but his knock gave India the momentum they needed to stay in the hunt. Dhir, who is 26 years old, batted with a strike rate that kept the required run rate within reach for the batters to follow.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who turned 23 in May, came to the crease after Dhir's dismissal and helped India complete the chase alongside vice-captain Tilak Varma. Reddy finished on 26 off 13 balls. His contribution alongside Tilak Varma in the closing overs proved decisive as India reached 181 for 6 in 19.5 overs.
Gambhir's tribute on X
Tilak Varma, the 23-year-old, was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 51 off 26 balls. He also took two catches in the field. Tilak's knock anchored the final push after the top order had collapsed, and he remained not out as India crossed the target.
Mitchell Santner was the pick of New Zealand's bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 21 runs. For New Zealand with the bat, Glenn Phillips top-scored with 70 while Jacobs contributed 58 as the hosts posted 180 for 5 in their 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh was India's most successful bowler, finishing with 2 wickets for 33 runs.
The result put India 2-0 ahead in the series. The win also continued a positive run for three-time T20 World Cup winners India, with their young players delivering under pressure in a high-scoring chase away from home.