India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan delivered a timely reminder of his explosive ability, producing a match-winning 76 off just 32 balls against New Zealand in the second T20I on Friday. The knock marked a strong response after a modest outing in the series opener and came at a crucial time as India fine-tune combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Backed by the selectors for a top-order role ahead of Shubman Gill, Kishan admitted that doubts crossed his mind when he walked in to bat during the Raipur encounter. However, the left-hander said he was clear about one thing — trusting himself and playing his natural game.

“I asked myself one question, can I do it again or not? And I had a very clear answer. I felt I could bat through the innings and play good shots. I just needed to get runs somewhere to answer my questions,” Kishan said after the match.

He added that the focus was not on the outcome but on playing positive cricket. “Even if I got out, I just wanted to play good cricket. That was it,” he said.

Kishan also benefited from batting alongside India captain Suryakumar Yadav, with whom he shares a long association from their time together in the Indian Premier League. The partnership helped India maintain momentum as Kishan attacked the New Zealand bowling from the outset.

Reflecting on his return to the national side, Kishan credited his domestic performances for restoring confidence. He said scoring consistently at that level played a key role in helping him carry form into international cricket.

“Sometimes it’s important to do it for yourself — to answer your own questions about how you’re batting and whether you’re capable of playing for India. That’s why domestic cricket was important for me,” he said.

With three matches still remaining in the T20I series against New Zealand, Kishan stressed that the job is far from finished, both for him and the team, as India look to build rhythm and consistency going forward.

India produced a controlled bowling effort through the middle phase, led by Kuldeep Yadav, but New Zealand managed a late acceleration to post a 200-plus total after being put in to bat in the second T20 International of the five-match series in Raipur on Friday.

New Zealand began positively after losing the toss, with their openers making good use of the powerplay. India, however, pulled things back soon after, with Harshit Rana providing the opening breakthrough before Varun Chakravarthy struck to apply pressure during the early overs.

Kuldeep Yadav emerged as India’s most effective bowler on the day. The left-arm spinner dismissed Rachin Ravindra, who top-scored for New Zealand with a brisk 44, and later removed Glenn Phillips to halt the visitors’ momentum during the middle overs. His spell ensured New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals despite maintaining a healthy run rate.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to introduce Shivam Dube also worked in India’s favour, as the medium-pacer accounted for Daryl Mitchell with a well-disguised delivery. With Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana picking up a wicket each, New Zealand were reduced to five down at one stage.

However, the visitors recovered strongly in the latter part of the innings. Late-order contributions, including finishing touches from Mitchell Santner, helped New Zealand regain momentum and push the total beyond 200, giving them a competitive score on a good batting surface.

India went into the match without Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested, while Axar Patel missed out due to a finger injury sustained in the first T20I. The inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana added variety to the bowling attack as India looked to build on their opening-match win in the series.

Bangladesh have decided not to travel to India for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7, after their request to shift matches out of the country was rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The decision was announced on Thursday following a meeting involving Bangladesh national team players and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been given a 24-hour deadline by the ICC on Wednesday to confirm its participation in the tournament.

The board clarified that it is keen to take part in the global event but expressed its inability to do so in India amid prevailing political tensions between the two countries. The BCB said it would continue discussions with the ICC in the hope of finding an alternative solution to the impasse.

However, with the tournament drawing closer, Bangladesh’s withdrawal has placed the ICC in a difficult position. As things stand, Scotland are likely to be brought in as a replacement team if Bangladesh’s stance remains unchanged.

The ICC has not yet issued an official statement on Bangladesh’s decision, but preparations for the tournament are continuing as per the original schedule.