When New Zealand players took the field for the second T20 match against India on January 23, 2026, fans at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur immediately witnessed a serious incident. The Blackcaps players were seen wearing black armbands, which was a stark contrast to the high-energy atmosphere of the five-match series.
Why are New Zealand players wearing black armbands for IND vs NZ 2nd T20I in Raipur?
During the live telecast, renowned commentator and former cricketer Ian Smith gave a serious explanation for the tribute, saying that the team was playing with a heavy heart, reported Sportsdunia. Smith explained that the black armbands are being worn to honor the victims and support those affected by the devastating storms and landslides currently ravaging the North Island. On 22 January, record-breaking rainfall caused a massive landslide at a popular holiday camping site at the base of Mount Maunganui.
The disaster struck the beachside holiday park during the peak summer holiday season, leaving cabins and campervans buried under tonnes of mud. At least two people have been confirmed dead in a separate landslide in nearby Welcome Bay, while several others, including children, are missing at the Mount Maunganui site. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has described the affected areas as a ‘war zone’, with a state of emergency declared in five regions, including Northland and the Eastern Cape.
New Zealand’s explosive start against India in Raipur
Despite heavy hearts, the Blackcaps started the second T20I with aggressive intent after being asked to bat first by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. Devon Conway immediately set the tone by giving away 18 runs to Arshdeep Singh in the opening over, which included a six over backward point. However, the breakthrough for India came in the fourth over when Harshit Rana, replacing the resting Jasprit Bumrah, dismissed Conway for 19. Soon after this, Tim Seifert became the victim of Varun Chakraborty after scoring 24 runs in 13 balls. At the score of 10 overs, New Zealand reached 111/3, with Rachin Ravindra close to a half-century to keep the visitors in the race to level the series after a 48-run defeat in the opening game in Nagpur.
