IND vs NZ 2nd T20I: Team India’s ‘sun’ shone after 23 innings, Ishan also showed ‘pride’ and the captain made a comeback

In the cold air of Raipur, when India’s score was 2 wickets for 6 runs in the second over, not only the wickets had fallen – the test of the mentality of the Indian T20 team had also begun. Suryakumar Yadav Came to the crease and was beaten by Jacob Duffy’s seam movement in the very first balls. The ball went off the edge of the bat, and Suryakumar saw the pitch as if it had suddenly turned towards the bowler.

But it was not just a dot ball. This was symbolic of the long struggle Suryakumar had been in for months – runs were not coming, but he kept saying again and again, “My form has not gone, only runs have not come.”

The biggest lie of T20 cricket is that “form” is visible. Actually, only timing is visible – and it is not just of bat and ball, it is also of mind and opportunity.

24 innings drought and one night blast

On Friday night, Suryakumar Yadav scored 82 runs in 37 balls – 9 fours, 4 sixes. This was not just an innings, it was the first fifty in 24 T20 International innings, which came after October 2024. But calling this innings a mere “comeback” would be half the truth of the story. The real story is that Suryakumar’s form did not come back alone – it was Ishan Kishan’s timing that gave him the freedom.

Ishan Kishan: Returned after 2 years, proved himself

This match was Ishan Kishan’s first T20 International after November 2023. But this comeback was not the result of any emotional decision, but the result of team combination politics. India removed Shubman Gill from T20 top order. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma started opening again.

And then the question arose – what should the backup wicketkeeper be like? Then Ishan Kishan re-entered the team. But this choice was not a gift. Ishaan scored 517 runs in 10 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 197.33 and contributed significantly to the team becoming the tournament winner.

Powerplay win even at 6/2

While chasing the target of 200+ runs, India had lost 2 wickets early. New Zealand needed just one blow to turn the match. But Ishan Kishan himself gave that blow to the bowlers. 24 runs in one over. Again the same ball goes out – but this time fours. Even experienced bowlers like Santner and Matt Henry could not change the direction. Ishaan scored a half-century in 21 balls – that too in the powerplay. India’s score was 75/2 in 6 overs. Its biggest impact was not on the scoreboard but on the mind of Suryakumar Yadav.

Captain got a rare gift: time

After 6 overs, Suryakumar’s score was 8 runs on 8 balls. This is considered a luxury in T20. If Ishan was not scoring runs, Suryakumar would have had to take risks. But Ishan’s storm gave the captain the thing that is rarest of all in T20 – time to think. Suryakumar himself said, “I don’t know what Ishaan had for lunch, but I have never seen anyone batting at 6/2 and finishing the powerplay at 67-70.”

when the turn of the innings came

One over came – 25 runs. And Suryakumar woke up in the same over. Guide towards third man, then pull shot, then cover drive. Fifty in 23 balls. Then Duffy responded with a bouncer and then hit Faulks outside the ground. This was the same Suryakumar who was being called ‘out of form’ for months.

This match is not a story of technique, it is a story of head-space. Suryakumar was confident, but there was no result, while Ishaan was scoring, but there was no chance. In Raipur, the result got confidence and confidence got opportunity, and together they won the match.

Ishan Kishan’s place is temporary because if Tilak Verma is fit, he will return to number 3. But Raipur’s innings decided one thing that Ishaan is no longer just a “standby”. He has become a strategic option. And Suryakumar? He also knows that there are no guarantees in T20. But this innings proves that his form never went away – it just didn’t come his turn.