Tilak Varma redefines the T20 finisher by choosing when to attack

Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 from 26 balls to guide India to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20I at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. India chased 181 with one ball to spare and took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Varma added an unbroken 69-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy after India slipped to 112 for six in the 15th over.

Mitchell Santner took four for 21 to leave India needing 68 runs from the last five overs. Varma scored only 10 from his first nine balls before accelerating against the pacers, hitting six fours and one six. He told reporters he had spoken with coaches Gautam Gambhir and Sitanshu Kotak before the match about staying until the end.

Varma's approach of holding back against spin and targeting pace produced the decisive 69-run partnership from 30 balls. Reddy finished unbeaten on 26 from 13 deliveries. India can seal the series with a win in Wellington on Tuesday.