Along with several clips of the India vs New Zealand 2nd T20 match in Raipur, a viral video featuring India all-rounder Hardik Pandya and former Indian cricketer Murali Karthik in an animated discussion quickly became a hot topic among cricket fans on the internet.
In the viral video, it is seen that Hardik Pandya and Karthik were discussing something deeply. The incident may have happened before the start of the second match of the 5-match T20 competition between India and New Zealand. According to the video, Karthik welcomed Pandya as soon as he stepped on the field.
Tension increases between Hardik Pandya and Murali Karthik!
Then an animated conversation started between them. It seems that there may have been a disagreement between Pandya on some issue, while Karthik was trying to explain something to the all-rounder. With the video going viral, netizens can only speculate as what actually happened between them remains hidden.
Heated argument between Hardik Pandya and Murali Karthik? Idea? pic.twitter.com/PsKs2ia7TF
– Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) 23 January 2026
After winning the first match dominantly in Jaipur, India won the second match in spectacular style, that too while chasing the huge score of 208 runs made by New Zealand while batting first. Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav were the star performers of the night behind the spectacular win. Together, these two achieved the target in just 15.2 overs.
Hardik Pandya’s performance in the match
Hardik Pandya also performed well in Raipur. The all-rounder did not get a chance to showcase his batting, but he performed his bowling duties effectively.
Pandya took the wicket of New Zealand middle-order batsman Mark Chapman and gave away only 25 runs in his 3-over spell, which is good as the Blackcaps had scored 208/6 in the first innings.
Ishan Kishan was the star of the match
Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match for his explosive batting, which took India easily to the finishing line. The keeper-batsman came to bat at number 3 and scored 76 runs in 32 balls with the help of 11 fours and 4 sixes.
Yadav, who performed poorly for Team India in 2025, regained his form by scoring unbeaten 82 runs in 37 balls. Yadav and Kishan added 122 runs in 48 balls for the third wicket, which proved to be decisive in the game.
After the match, the Indian captain praised Ishan Kishan’s excellent batting. He said that he has rarely seen anyone bat like this at 2 for 6 and yet the powerplay ends around 67 or 70. For the captain, what Kishan did in the match was absolutely incredible.
“I don’t know what Ishan ate for lunch or what pre-workout he did before the game, but I have never seen anyone bat like this at 2 for 6 and still end the powerplay around 67 or 70,” Yadav said.
Read more: Despite bravery in Raipur T20I, Suryakumar Yadav made angry attack on Ishan Kishan
