IND vs NZ: Ishan Kishan becomes only 3rd player to join Unique List, first Indian to do so

Ishan Kishan has become only the 3rd batter in T20I history to join a unique list after his stellar knock against New Zealand on Friday (January 23).

In the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur, Ishan Kishan delivered a truly brilliant and match-turning knock that lit up the chase of 209 runs.

IND vs NZ Ishan Kishan becomes only 3rd player to join Unique List

India suffered early jolts, slumping to 6/2 after losing openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the first two overs. But it was Kishan's night, who launched a stellar counterattack against the New Zealand bowlers.

Stepping in at No. 3, Kishan unleashed a fearless counter-attack, showcasing explosive power-hitting and impeccable timing against a quality New Zealand bowling attack. He raced to a half-century in just 21 balls-the fastest by an Indian batter against New Zealand in T20Is-surpassing Abhishek Sharma's 22-ball record from the previous match.

His aggressive intent saw him hammer boundaries at will, including a flurry of fours and towering sixes, pushing India's powerplay score to 75 despite the setbacks. Kishan combined clean striking with smart placement, punishing loose deliveries.

Ishan Kishan joins Unique List

Ishan Kishan scored 56 runs off just 23 balls within the first six overs of the match, thus becoming only the 3rd non-opener batter in the history of T20Is to score 50+ runs among full member nations. Kishan is second in the list, as the top non-opener score in the powerplay belongs to Zimbabwe's Dion Myers who scored 60 against Rwanda. The other player in the list is Australia's Josh Inglis who scored 51 off 29 deliveries against West Indies in 2025.

Partnering with captain Suryakumar Yadav, he forged a vital century stand that swung momentum firmly India's way. Kishan eventually fell for a blistering 76 off 32 balls, but not before putting India in command. India completed the chase in style with 27 balls to spare, thus taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against the Blackcaps.