New Delhi, 25 October (H.S.): Following India’s thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20 International, batter Tilak Varma revealed how patience, disciplined shot selection and a commitment to take the innings deep helped the visitors secure a memorable win.

Speaking in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday, Varma explained that the slow pitch, large ground and pace of the deliveries, particularly the short-pitched balls, made hitting sixes considerably more difficult than in the opening match. Rather than attempting ambitious shots, he focused on rotating the strike, running hard between the wickets and capitalising on scoring opportunities.

Varma said he had promised head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak that he would try to bat deep and guide the team through the challenging chase. He fulfilled that commitment by remaining unbeaten and combining with Nitish Kumar Reddy to take India across the finish line with one ball to spare.

“I think the wicket was quite challenging. If you look at the conditions, the ground was big, the pitch was slow and the ball was coming through quickly when they bowled bouncers. It was not easy to hit sixes whenever you wanted. In the first match, hitting sixes was easier, but the conditions in this game were considerably more difficult,” Varma said.

He added that the circumstances demanded intelligent batting and a willingness to work hard for every run. The Indian batters concentrated on taking singles and converting ones into twos, while making the most of opportunities to clear the boundary.

Varma admitted that he, too, had felt tempted to play attacking shots while Naman Dhir was batting aggressively at the other end. However, recalling his conversation with Gambhir and Kotak, he decided to remain composed and take responsibility for carrying the innings forward.

“Last match, my approach was slightly defensive, and I wanted to get off the mark with singles and build my innings. In this match, too, when Naman Dhir was hitting the ball well, I played cautiously. I wanted to find boundaries against the spinners, but I exercised restraint and decided to take the game deep. What happened afterwards was God’s plan,” he said.

Before joining forces with Reddy in the decisive partnership, Varma had shared an important stand with Dhir, who scored 31 off just 17 deliveries. Dhir’s aggressive contribution helped India regain momentum after the top and middle order had struggled against New Zealand’s bowling attack.

Reddy also praised Varma’s composure and his ability to run quickly between the wickets, describing their coordination as a crucial factor in the successful chase.

“I really enjoyed batting with Tilak. He runs hard between the wickets, and I do the same. We enjoyed batting together. One thing I particularly appreciated was that when Naman Dhir was batting brilliantly and scoring quickly, Tilak avoided unnecessary risks and gave him singles to retain the strike. Naman was then able to continue playing his natural game,” Reddy said.

He added that after Dhir’s dismissal, the pair adopted a more aggressive and positive approach. They concentrated on running hard, converting singles into twos, finding boundaries and putting the New Zealand bowlers under pressure.

According to Reddy, the momentum in a T20 match can change dramatically within a single over, and the Indian pair demonstrated how a calculated shift in approach can transform a difficult chase into a winning one.

New Zealand had posted 180 for five in their allotted 20 overs, setting India a target of 181. The visitors subsequently found themselves in a precarious position at 70 for five before Dhir’s brisk innings offered some relief.

India still required 68 runs from the final five overs, leaving little margin for error. However, Varma and Reddy launched a decisive counterattack, stitching together an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Varma finished on 51 not out off 26 deliveries, while Reddy remained unbeaten on 26 off 13 balls, as India reached 181 for six in 19.5 overs.

The victory gave India a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 International series. The third match is scheduled to be played in Wellington, New Zealand, on October 27.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar