India Take 2-0 Lead in T20I Series After Hyderabad Duo’s Late Heroics
India’s seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy credited self-belief, smart batting and effective running between the wickets for India’s thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20 International at Hagley Oval on Saturday.
Reddy and Tilak Varma, popularly dubbed the ‘Hyderabadi boys’, produced a remarkable late recovery, stitching together an unbeaten 69-run partnership off just 30 balls to guide India to a target of 181 with one ball remaining. The victory gave India a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 26 deliveries, while Nitish Reddy contributed an unbeaten 26 off just 13 balls, including the winning runs. Their 69-run stand also became India’s highest seventh-wicket partnership in men’s T20 Internationals.
Belief Turned the Game Around
India were in serious trouble at 70 for five after a top-order collapse. Reddy joined Tilak in the middle after Naman Dhir was dismissed in the 15th over, leaving the visitors with a challenging task.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Reddy said the pair focused on believing that one productive over could change the momentum of the contest.
He explained that they remained patient, rotated the strike through quick running and punished loose deliveries for boundaries. According to Reddy, their ability to turn good deliveries into twos and capitalize on scoring opportunities played a crucial role in shifting the pressure onto New Zealand’s bowlers.
With India’s required run rate climbing sharply, the partnership transformed what appeared to be a difficult chase into a memorable victory.
Explosive Finish Seals India’s Win
The decisive phase began in the 18th over, when India collected 17 runs off Jacob Duffy, with Tilak striking two boundaries. The visitors followed it up by taking 18 runs off Nathan Smith in the 19th over.
India entered the final over needing 11 runs to win. Reddy kept his composure and struck the winning runs by clipping the ball into the gap between deep midwicket and deep backward square leg, completing a remarkable turnaround.
Reddy said staying calm under pressure and anticipating the bowler’s plans were important aspects of finishing close games. He added that players must remain at the crease, trust their abilities and wait for the right opportunity to take control.
Gambhir’s Message: Believe in Yourself
Reddy revealed that head coach Gautam Gambhir did not send any special instructions during the chase. Instead, the coach’s consistent message has been to maintain self-belief regardless of the match situation.
According to Reddy, the players trusted their experience and played according to their instincts rather than attempting to force the pace unnecessarily.
He also praised New Zealand’s bowling attack, particularly Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy, for applying pressure during the powerplay and middle overs. Reddy acknowledged that the hosts bowled well but said India’s ability to seize one crucial over ultimately changed the outcome.
Reddy Focuses on Fitness and Experience
The all-rounder also spoke about the physical demands of balancing batting and bowling. He acknowledged that injuries are part of an all-rounder’s career and said he was continuing to work on managing his workload and improving his fitness.
Reddy has previously faced quadriceps-related fitness setbacks that forced him to miss international assignments. However, he expressed happiness at representing India and said his immediate priority was to remain fit and contribute whenever selected.
He added that experience plays a vital role in handling high-pressure situations, particularly when bowlers are required to deliver in difficult overs.
Optional Practice Helped Reddy Adapt
Reddy also revealed that he attended an optional practice session on Friday to adjust to the extra bounce in New Zealand conditions.
After playing the first match, he felt additional batting practice would help him prepare better for the local pitches. He said the session proved useful, noting that New Zealand wickets behave differently from those in India.
India will now travel to Wellington for the third T20I on October 27. With a 2-0 advantage in the series, the visitors will look to maintain their winning momentum, while New Zealand will aim to bounce back in the next encounter.
