A solid team performance inspired India to register this win.
In reply to New Zealand's 158 for 8, India got off to a flying start from the opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan who built a 79-run partnership between them to put India's chase on right track.
India's stand-in skipper Rohit scored 50 off 28 balls while Pant and Dhawan scored unbeaten 40 and 30 respectively to steer India's win.
Earlier, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson winning the toss opted to bat first. However, his teammates failed to back his decision as they lost wickets in the regular interval before India's disciplined bowling attack.
Apart from a 77-run partnership between Colin de Grandhomme (50) and Ross Taylor (42), which posed a serious threat to India at one juncture of the match, the Blackcaps failed to address the challenge posed by Indian bowlers.
Indian spinner Krunal Pandya took three wickets for 28 runs in four overs while Khaleel Ahmed picked up two wickets. At the same time, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya, who took one wicket each, chipped in with their economical spells.
In the first T20I, New Zealand took 1-0 lead in the series by handing India 80-run defeat at Westpac, Wellington on Wednesday.
India 135 for 3 at the end of 16th over. Pant (26), Dhoni (8).
MS Dhoni joins Pant in the middle
Wicket! Daryl Mitchell to Shankar (14) out. India 118 for 3 in 14 overs.
100 up for India. They still need 59 runs off 45 balls to level the series. 8 wickets remaining
Rishabh Pant (12) and Vijay Shankar (1) are in the middle. India require another partnership. Will the duo be able to forge the same?
Wicket! Dhawan departs,
Lockie Ferguson gives NZ second wicket. India 88 for 2
India 83 for 1 at the end of 10 overs. The visitors need 76 off 60 balls to win this match. Dhawan (28), Rishabh Pant (1)
Wicket! This is the end of Indian skipper. Ish Sodhi gets rid of the Rohit (50). India 79 for 1
India skipper Rohit Sharma reaches his 50 runs mark off 28 balls. India 77 for none at the end of 9th over.
With 2073 runs Rohit Sharma becomes world's highest run-getter in T20Is. He went past NZ's Martin Guptill who accumulated 2272 runs.
India got off to a brilliant start. 50 for none at the end of powerplay. Rohit Sharma 31 and Shikhar Dhawan 19
India require 159 runs in 20 overs to win the match.
The last ball wicket for India. Khaleel Ahmed takes his second wicket of the match. NZ 158 for 8 at the end of 20 overs. Krunal Pandya takes three wickets for 28 runs in four overs.
Wicket! Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Santner 1 run. A direct hit from long on by Vijay Shankar to find Taylor (42) short of the crease at non-striker's end. NZ 153 for 6
100 up for New Zealand! de Grandhomme (39), Taylor (18) bail out NZ from a poor start. 50 runs partnership between the duo. NZ 105 for 4 at the end of 13th over
19 runs from Yuzvendra Chahal's 3rd over. NZ 79 for 4 at the end of 11th over
NZ 64 for 4 at the end of 10 overs.
End to power play, NZ down to 43 for 3
Wicket! Krunal Pandya to Daryl Mitchell, out Lbw!! Daryl Mitchell has been given out LBW and he wants a review. It is unsuccessful. There is no connection between bat and ball. Umpire declared him out.
Wicket! Hardik Pandya to Colin Munro (12), caught by captain Rohit Sharma. NZ 41 for 2
NZ 17 for 1 at the end of 3 overs
Wicket! Bhuvneshwar to Seifert, out Caught by Dhoni!!