"We Fell A Bit Short In Our Bowling": Shreyas Iyer Reflects On India's Defeat To New Zealand

India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer admitted the team "fell short" with the ball after an 87-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth T20I, while crediting Glenn Phillips for his match-winning century. "I think we fell a bit short with the ball to start with. In the powerplay, especially in the third over, they got that momentum and carried it forward. A couple of bowlers tried to pull things back, but it was an exceptional knock by Glenn. Some phenomenal shots, which were pure bliss to watch. So, kudos to him. He's been consistent throughout the series, and there's a lot to learn from him," Iyer said during the post-match presentation.

Phillips smashed 107 off just 49 balls, including six fours and 10 sixes, while Michael Bracewell contributed a blistering 65 off 25 deliveries as New Zealand posted 259/7 after being put in to bat.

Their fifth-wicket stand of 115 runs from just 41 balls transformed the innings after the hosts had lost two early wickets.

India's chase never gained momentum after Jacob Duffy struck twice in the opening over, dismissing Sanju Samson for four and Ishan Kishan for a duck.

Duffy finished with figures of 4/23, while Mitchell Santner and Matthew Fisher claimed two wickets apiece as India were restricted to 172/9 in their 20 overs.

Iyer, who scored 22 off 11 balls with four boundaries, said the team would review its performance and look to improve execution ahead of the series finale.

"I feel it's important to reflect and see where we can bounce back. We have just a day off before heading to Hamilton. Personally, I feel we can go back to the drawing board, analyse what went wrong and try to execute better in the next match," he said.

The Indian skipper also acknowledged that adapting to New Zealand's conditions and smaller ground dimensions had been a challenge for some players, especially those experiencing them for the first time.

"The conversation was about understanding the dimensions and adapting to the conditions. For some players, it's their first time playing on grounds like these, and it takes time to adjust. It's not easy, and I understand that. But the way they performed in the first three matches was magnificent.

"This is a learning curve. The next time they come here, they'll have a much better understanding of how to go about their game. Hopefully, we can take the positives and come back stronger in the next match," Iyer added.

Despite the defeat, India hold an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series after winning the opening three games.

The fifth and final T20I will be played in Hamilton.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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