Gautam Gambhir Praises Young Stars After India's Thrilling T20I Victory Over New Zealand

In a thrilling T20I match in Christchurch, India secured a remarkable victory against New Zealand, with Gautam Gambhir praising the young talents Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy for their outstanding performances. After a shaky start, the trio led India to chase down a target of 181 runs, showcasing their skills and resilience. This win puts India ahead in the five-match series, raising hopes for the future of Indian cricket. Discover more about their impressive contributions and the match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 24, 2026, 23:56 IST

Gambhir Commends Emerging Talents

In Christchurch, New Zealand, on October 24, Indian head coach and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir expressed his admiration for Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy following their remarkable partnership during a challenging run-chase of 181 runs against New Zealand in the second T20I.

India faced a tough situation at 70/5 after a brief 40-run partnership between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, with spinners Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell proving difficult to handle. However, Naman Dhir's quick 31 runs reignited hope for the Indian team. Tilak displayed exceptional game awareness and strategic acceleration, while Nitish played a supportive role, successfully guiding India to chase down the target with one ball remaining and four wickets in hand.

Post-match, Gambhir took to X to commend the duo, stating, “Boys becoming Men.”

Naman Dhir's Promising Performance

Naman Dhir has emerged as a reliable finisher for India, accumulating 111 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 37.00 and a striking rate of 246.66, with a top score of 42*. His contributions have been vital in securing two T20I victories in New Zealand, alongside taking five wickets at an average of 24.20, with best bowling figures of 3/31.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has represented India across all formats, showcased maturity in his innings, scoring 26 runs. In his 11 T20I appearances, he has amassed 181 runs at an average of 36.20 and a strike rate of 174.03, with a highest score of 74 and one half-century.

Match Summary

In the match, India won the toss and opted to bowl first, reducing New Zealand to 41/3 during the powerplay. Glenn Phillips (70 runs off 46 balls, including four boundaries and sixes) and Bevon Jacobs (58 runs off 46 balls, with five fours and a six) orchestrated a recovery, forming a 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket, leading New Zealand to a total of 180/5 in their 20 overs.

Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowler for India, taking 2 wickets for 33 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy each claimed a wicket.

While chasing the target of 181, India stumbled from 40/0 to 112/6, with Mitchell Santner's four wickets wreaking havoc in the middle overs. Naman Dhir's quick 31 runs in 17 balls (featuring one four and three sixes) revitalized the innings, and it was Tilak (51* off 26 balls, with six fours and a six) and Nitish (26* off 13 balls, with a four and a six) who ultimately secured victory for India with one ball to spare. With this win, India leads the five-match series 2-0.