Two days after scoring a scratchy six runs off 12 balls in India's series opener, Tilak Varma answered his critics with a powerful performance in Christchurch. The vice-captain smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 26 deliveries to help India secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I on Saturday.
After turning the chase around under pressure, Tilak celebrated by placing a finger against his lips before covering his ears with his fingers. The gestures appeared to be directed at those who had questioned his approach in the opening match. This time, he had delivered when it mattered and made sure his response was both visible and unmistakable.
Tilak and Nitish Kumar Reddy shared an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket as India recovered from 112/6 to chase down a target of 181 with one ball remaining. The victory gave India a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and provided another demonstration of how their much-discussed focus on batting depth can prove valuable in pressure situations.
The emotional celebration was understandable. Tilak had faced criticism for his slow innings during India's successful pursuit of 226 in Thursday's series opener, managing just six runs from 12 deliveries. Brought in at No. 3 to replace the injured Ishan Kishan, the left-hander struggled to find his rhythm, although India eventually completed the chase with two balls to spare.
Returning to his preferred middle-order position at No. 6 on Saturday, Tilak delivered a markedly different performance. On a pitch that offered greater assistance to the bowlers, he paced his innings expertly, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 26 balls, including six fours and a six.
India's top order struggled against New Zealand's disciplined bowling attack. Sanju Samson scored 14, while teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi managed only four on his return to the playing XI. Abhishek Sharma and the other middle-order batters also failed to build a substantial partnership, leaving India in trouble at 112/6.
Naman Dhir, who had played a crucial counter-attacking innings of 51 from just 16 balls in the first match, contributed again with 31 off 17 deliveries. He looked in control and injected momentum into the innings during the middle overs. However, Mitchell Santner dismissed him in the 15th over by changing his pace, leaving India in need of another rescue effort. At the end of the 16th over, Tilak was on 10 off nine balls, with the required run rate climbing sharply.
Instead of panicking, Tilak allowed Nitish Reddy time to settle before attacking Nathan Smith in the 19th over. He smashed 18 runs, including a six and three boundaries, reducing the equation to 11 runs from the final six deliveries. Reddy then helped finish the job, remaining unbeaten on 26 off 13 balls.
DISCIPLINED BOWLING SHOW
Earlier, India made a promising start with the ball after winning the toss and choosing to field. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Tim Seifert for seven in the second over, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Daryl Mitchell for six. Prince Yadav then bowled Finn Allen for 16, leaving New Zealand at 41/3 inside the powerplay.
India maintained control over the scoring rate until the halfway stage, but Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs changed the momentum with a 116-run fourth-wicket partnership from 77 deliveries. Phillips led the counter-attack, scoring 70 off 43 balls with four fours and four sixes. Jacobs provided valuable support with 58 from 46 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six.
India had an opportunity to break the partnership when Shreyas Iyer dropped Jacobs on 20 in the 11th over. The missed chance proved costly as the pair gradually rebuilt the innings before accelerating towards the end. Phillips reached his half-century off 33 balls, while Jacobs brought up his fifty in 40 deliveries.
Arshdeep eventually dismissed Phillips in the 18th over, with Dhir taking the catch to end the partnership at 157. Jacobs followed soon afterwards, caught by Axar Patel off Reddy's bowling for 58. Michael Bracewell then provided a late flourish, scoring an unbeaten 10 off just two balls, including a four and a six, as New Zealand finished at 180/5.
Arshdeep was India's most successful bowler, returning figures of 2/33, while Prince finished with 1/30. Bhuvneshwar conceded 50 runs in his four overs but accounted for Mitchell, and Reddy claimed the important wicket of Jacobs.
India's bowling performance had its shortcomings, but early breakthroughs and wickets in the closing overs prevented New Zealand from posting a total higher than 180.
Captain Shreyas Iyer also managed his bowling resources more effectively than in Thursday's opening match, when Nitish Kumar Reddy was asked to complete his full quota of overs. On Saturday, Iyer turned to Naman Dhir shortly after the powerplay, when New Zealand had lost three wickets and were likely to be cautious about taking risks. The part-time off-spinner conceded just seven runs, justifying his captain's decision.
