India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer praised Tilak Varma after the batter guided India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand at Hagley Oval on Saturday.
Tilak scored an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, helping India recover from 70/5 in 10.5 overs. India completed the chase with one ball remaining, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
“I feel that every individual in our game is a match winner, and today we saw the example of that,” Shreyas said after the match.
He praised Tilak and Nitish Kumar Reddy for showing character under pressure and also highlighted Naman Dhir’s contribution.
India struggled against New Zealand’s disciplined bowling, with Mitchell Santner claiming four wickets for 21 runs in his four overs.
However, Tilak, Naman and Reddy turned the contest around. Naman scored 31 off 17 balls, while Reddy remained unbeaten on 26 off 13 deliveries.
Their contributions helped India secure victory after losing wickets in quick succession.
Shreyas also praised Naman’s recent performances, recalling his unbeaten 42 off 15 balls in India’s successful chase of 226 in the first T20I.
He described Naman as a comprehensive player who contributes with both bat and ball and brings valuable energy to the field.
The India captain credited Santner and Michael Bracewell for controlling the middle overs and making scoring difficult.
Shreyas admitted that India’s accumulation of dot balls increased the required run rate. He felt the batters could have managed the chase more comfortably by finding gaps and rotating the strike.
Despite the pressure, India’s middle and lower order held their nerve to complete the victory. The team will now look to maintain its momentum in the remaining matches of the series.
Also Read: India vs New Zealand: Tilak-Nitish Stand Enters Record Books After Thrilling T20I Win
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