On Saturday night in Christchurch, India chased 181-4 against New Zealand, clinching a 2-0 series lead thanks to Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51 off 26.
Varma, batting at No.8, smashed six fours and a six, while his 69‑run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy kept the engines running. Naman Dhir had already nudged the team with a 31 off 17, but the real magic began when India were 112-6.
Mitchell Santner had ripped through the top order with 4/21, and every ball felt like a minefield. Varma's six‑ball burst—four fours and a six—kept the scoreboard ticking and the crowd roaring. It was a calm in the storm that turned the tide.
After the win, Varma said, "Gautam sir and Kotak sir believed in me and told me we could win if I bat till the end." His composure and the team's sharp fielding sealed the deal.
India now heads into the third T20I on Sunday, looking to smash the series and leave New Zealand chasing the tail.