Correspondent, 24 October: The Indian team secured a remarkable comeback victory in the second T20 match against New Zealand, establishing a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. However, despite the back-to-back wins, captain Shreyas Iyer remains less than completely satisfied. While crediting all the players for the triumph, he clarified that their work is only half finished since three matches are still left to be played.
Speaking after the match, Iyer specifically commended the determination of the squad's younger members. He noted that the game appeared to be slipping out of their grasp when India found themselves in a precarious position at 112 for 6. He credited Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy for displaying immense perseverance to successfully bring the team back into the match.
The captain also lauded Naman Dhir for his all-round efforts. According to Iyer, Dhir's aggressive batting during the closing stages, combined with his useful bowling and outstanding fielding, provided a valuable contribution to the side. At the same time, Iyer acknowledged the performances of New Zealand's spin bowlers, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell. He admitted that the duo successfully built pressure on the Indian batters during the middle overs, making it difficult to play big shots against their bowling.
Reflecting on the run chase, Iyer pointed out that playing numerous dot balls initially caused the required run rate to climb. He observed that securing the win would have been much easier had they found more opportunities to hit boundaries. Ultimately, the skipper delivered a clear message to his teammates, urging them to avoid complacency and begin their preparations for the three remaining fixtures despite holding the series lead.
