Tilak Varma’s 51* in 26 balls lifted India to a 181/6, 4‑wicket win over New Zealand at Christchurch. The hosts were rattled, falling to 112/7 before the chase was turned around.
After the collapse, Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy dark‑horseed a 69‑run stand in just 30 deliveries. Six fours and a six from Varma, plus an unbeaten 26 from Nitish, pushed the score to 181/6 in 19.5 overs.
Varma later told reporters that a pre‑match pep talk from coach Gautam Gambhir and batting guru Sitanshu Kotak was the spark. “We all believe… if you stay till the end, you’ll win the game for us,” Gambhir said, and that mantra echoed through his innings.
The win not only gives India a 2‑0 lead in the five‑match series but also sets a fierce tone for the final T20I on Sunday. With New Zealand scrambling for a comeback, every over will count for both sides.