"The entire momentum changed from there" - Ajinkya Rahane lauds Naman Dhir's knock in NZ vs IND 2026 2nd T20I

Former India player Ajinkya Rahane has lauded Naman Dhir for playing a crucial knock in the second T20I against New Zealand. He pointed out that the middle-order batter's innings changed the momentum of the game.

New Zealand posted 180/5 after being asked to bat first in Christchurch on Saturday, October 24. Dhir smashed 31 runs off 17 balls in the chase to help the visitors achieve the target with four wickets and a ball to spare.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Rahane praised Dhir for providing the required momentum to the innings before Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy completed the chase.

"What a turnaround. In the first 14-15 overs, if you see Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell's spells, they dominated. I feel Naman Dhir's innings changed the game completely. He took the risk there. He played a brave innings," the cricketer-turned-commentator said.

"He hit three sixes in between. He scored 31 runs off 17 balls. I think the entire momentum changed from there, and Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy finished the game after that. Why is the Indian team champions in this format? It's because they have different match-winners," he added.

Naman Dhir joined Tilak Varma in the middle when India were reduced to 70/5 after 10.5 overs. The duo added 42 runs in four overs, with Dhir taking most of the strike and scoring the majority of the runs.

"He scored his runs at a stage when Mitchell Santner had conceded nine or 10 runs in almost 3 overs" - Ajay Jadeja on Naman Dhir

In the same discussion, former India captain Ajay Jadeja praised Naman Dhir for attacking the New Zealand spinners.

"He scored his runs at a stage when Mitchell Santner had conceded nine or 10 runs in almost three overs. He finished his over well. He came at a difficult stage and maintained the pace that was there in the rest of the match. Then, when he got a Michael Bracewell over, he went after him," he said.

The former India all-rounder opined that the Mumbai Indians (MI) player would be disappointed as he lost his wicket after doing the difficult job.

"All Indian batters were struggling against spin or were having difficulties against it, and he made as much impact against them. He would be disappointed with himself because he got out at that stage. He left after doing the difficult job," Jadeja observed.

Naman Dhir struck three sixes and a four during his 31-run knock. He struck a six off the last ball of Mitchell Santner's third over and hit a four and a six in the next over bowled by Michael Bracewell before falling prey to the New Zealand skipper.

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