Shreyas Iyer reviews bowling after India's Auckland T20I defeat

Shreyas Iyer said India's bowling needed improvement after New Zealand won the fourth T20I in Auckland by 87 runs on October 30. The India captain praised Glenn Phillips, whose century helped the hosts secure their first victory of the five-match series.

New Zealand made 259 for seven, with Phillips contributing 107 from 49 deliveries. Michael Bracewell added 65 off 25 balls, giving the home side another substantial contribution alongside the centurion.

India's reply ended at 172 for nine, leaving their series advantage at 3-1. The teams now head to Hamilton for the final T20I, where India will seek a response to the Auckland result.

Captain points to execution and adjustment

Shreyas Iyer identified the early bowling exchanges as a problem, saying New Zealand gathered momentum in the third over of the powerplay. He said the team would examine its performance and work on carrying out its plans more effectively.

The captain was especially appreciative of Phillips' strokeplay and consistency across the series. Phillips struck six boundaries and cleared the ropes 10 times during the innings that helped shape New Zealand's winning total.

Iyer said some members of the Indian team were encountering grounds of these dimensions for the first time. He acknowledged that adjusting to those conditions could take time and presented a difficult challenge.

He nevertheless pointed to the players' execution during the first three matches as a reason for confidence. Iyer viewed the setback as an opportunity to learn, saying the experience could help them approach similar conditions with a better understanding in future.

Before the Hamilton match, his emphasis was on reviewing where India could recover and putting those lessons into practice. He expressed hope that the team would respond positively in the final game.

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