Team India continues their winning momentum in New Zealand. After losing their top-order batters early in the run chase, the Shreyas Iyer-led team was under pressure on Saturday, October 24. In the end, the team relied on depth in their batting order to win the second of the five-match T20I series after winning the first.

Naman Dhir showed his hitting skills again to take the finish line safely. But today, it was Tilak Varma who stole the spotlight with his unbeaten 51 off 26. Nitish Kumar Reddy also played a crucial role late in the 181-run chase.

India defeated New Zealand in the 2nd T20I after losing the top-order batters

The injury of Ishan Kishan ahead of this match put the visitors in a tricky situation. They added Kumar Kushagra as the keeper-batter's backup, but named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as Kishan's replacement in the playing XI. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is known as an opener, could not do much as a No.3 batter tonight.

Sanju Samson, the Player of the Match of the previous fixture, and his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma, departed early in the run chase. Losing back-to-back batters at one point of the match, New Zealand bowlers were ruling the second innings, leaving the Men in Blue off track.

From 70/5 in 10.5 overs to winning the match in 19.1 overs, Tilak Varma made it possible through two crucial partnerships, one with Naman Dhir and another with Nitish Kumar Reddy. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy added 69 runs together for the seventh wicket, one of the highest stands in successful T20I chases among the Full Members national cricket teams.

Every individual in our game is a match winner: Shreyas Iyer

At the presentation ceremony, Team India captain Shreyas Iyer told the broadcaster that the entire team was filled with multiple match winners. But what Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy displayed today was something special. Iyer also praised Naman Dhir for his well-timed, power-packed batting.

"I feel that every individual in our game is a match winner, and today we saw the example of that. Like, honestly speaking, when we lost wickets, consecutive wickets especially, we thought that the game was going away from us. But Tilak and Reddy showed immense character, and also a great cameo by Naman Dhir," Shreyas Iyer expressed.

Shreyas Iyer mentions why Naman Dhir is crucial for the team

Naman Dhir scored 31 runs from 17 balls in the run chase after delivering one over in the first innings, where he leaked only seven runs. Shreyas Iyer mentioned that Dhir showed glimpses of his greatness during India's home T20I series against West Indies. The Men in Blue skipper praised Dhir as he showed his true character in both batting and bowling under pressure.

"We saw him in a couple of games back home against West Indies. He’s a phenomenal bowler as well, and once you get both the parts covered in terms of batting and bowling, I think he brings in a lot of character, and also when you see him move around in the field, he basically, he’s a comprehensive player," Iyer stated.