Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth showered praise on Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy after the visitors claimed a four-wicket win against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch on Saturday. Srikkanth praised the batting duo for not slogging in the death overs and focusing on timing the ball, as the Hagley Oval has huge boundaries.
Nitish Kumar Reddy joined forces with Tilak Varma when India was struggling at 112-6 in the run chase of 181. Reddy scored a fine cameo of 13-ball 26 whereas Reddy played a match-winning knock of 51 runs off just 26 balls. The duo added 69 runs off just 30 balls to take India over the line.
Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “The Hyderabad boys (Tilak and Nitish) cooked a proper biryani off the New Zealand bowlers. Realising it’s a big ground, they didn’t slog and go for sixes. They went more for boundaries and focused on placement and innovative shots. Tilak was also superb in converting ones into twos and twos into threes. Tilak handles pressure beautifully as a finisher. Both Tilak and Nitish brilliantly absorbed pressure.”
The 1983 World Cup-winning player also praised Naman Dhir for scoring a crucial cameo of 17-ball 31. Dhir had earlier smashed 42 runs off just 15 balls in the series opener.
“He (Naman Dhir) saved India in both matches with brilliant cameos when India were seemingly finished. The impact he created was amazing. Though he scored only 30, it’s a big score in T20s at his position. The opposition is disrupted when you come in at No.7 and score a quickfire 30. He came out of nowhere, suddenly joined the team, and is doing wonders,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
The third T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on Tuesday.
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