New Zealand vs India 2020: Shreyas Iyer Reveals India's Game Plan For Auckland Run Chase
Published - 25 Jan 2020, 12:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 06:34 AM
India were off to a brilliant start in the first T20I match against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. The visitors thumped the hosts by six wickets with an over to spare. Rightly so, the touring party took the first lead in the five-match T20I series.
In reply to a mammoth total of 204 set up by New Zealand on the back of half-centuries from Colin Munro, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, India aced the target comfortably with the help of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s quickfire half-centuries.
Iyer had received praise for his brilliance which also saw former India batter, Virender Sehwag hailing former’s effort with the bat.
Iyer, in particular, was the pick of the batsmen on the day. Coming in to bat at No.4, the young sensation scored a magnificent 58 off 29 deliveries with the help of five fours and three maximums. He was named Player of the Match for his spectacular performance.
Well, at the post-match press conference, Iyer had explained how India chased down a 200-plus run chase with relative ease.
Shreyas Iyer explains the strategy behind 1st T20Is run-chase in Auckland:
Iyer said building a partnership is the most important thing while adding that Manish Pandey and himself decided to score at least one boundary an over and the move paid off as it ultimately mounted pressure on the Kiwis bowlers.
“We needed one important partnership, ground was small and in four overs 50 can also be made on this ground, so we decided one boundary an over and then bowler also comes under pressure,” Iyer spoke about his and Pandey’s mindset during the intense chase while speaking to Yuzvendra Chahal on ‘Chahal Tv’.
CHAHAL TV?️: @ShreyasIyer15 & @yuzi_chahal finish Auckland T20I in style ?? #NZvIND #TeamIndia
You wouldn't want to miss this one – by @RajalArora
Full video here ?? https://t.co/lbESm4iZqO pic.twitter.com/nzKFyQroSa
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 24, 2020
The right-handed batsman Iyer came out to bat in a situation after Indian captain Virat Kohli (45) and KL Rahul (56) got out.
Besides, when India needed instant redemption, Iyer brought the best out of himself and held his nerves with Pandey (14 not out), to smash two sixes and a four in the penultimate over of the game to steer India to victory.
Iyer was looking to finish the game off with a six but initially, he missed it. However, in the following delivery, he ensured to hit a maximum to finish the match convincingly.
“It feels good to finish the match and that too by hitting a six,” Iyer added in a statement.
Now, India will lock horns with New Zealand in the 2nd T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on January 26, Sunday.
