Gautam Gambhir praises India for T20I series win against New Zealand
Head coach Gautam Gambhir lauded the team's effort after India secured a 3-2 series victory despite a seven-wicket defeat in the final match.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the Indian team for their effort in winning the T20I series against New Zealand, despite a seven-wicket loss in the fifth match at Hamilton on Sunday.
India won the five-match series 3-2 after having secured an unassailable 3-1 lead before the final game. In the last T20I, India posted 191/8, with Ishan Kishan scoring 61 and captain Shreyas Iyer scoring 50. New Zealand chased the target with two overs to spare, led by Tim Seifert's 93 and Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 65.
Gambhir said the team deserved credit for delivering after a 15-hour flight and having only one practice session to prepare for the conditions. He noted that most players were touring New Zealand for the first time and were playing against a quality side in their own backyard.
The head coach said he was not afraid of challenges and remarked that if India had not won the series, the lack of practice would not have been discussed.
During the post-match presentation, Captain Shreyas Iyer handed the series trophy to Naman Dhir. Dhir, who finished as India's second highest run-getter of the series, was recognised for his performances throughout the tour.