‘A learning curve’: Iyer says India still adapting to NZ grounds after Eden Park drubbing
After three straight wins, India's batting couldn't outmuscle the hosts'. It came down to adjusting to the unique dimensions and conditions of Eden Park
India captain Shreyas Iyer described the 87-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth T20I as a “great learning curve”, saying some of his players were encountering grounds like Eden Park for the first time and would be better prepared on their next visit.
"Conversation was just that we knew that the dimensions are going to be like this, and some of them, it's their first time playing on such grounds," Iyer said at the post-match presentation. "So it takes a bit of time for them to adapt to the challenge. It's not that easy, I understand that, but the way they executed the first three games, it was magnificent. This is just a learning curve, I feel, that next time when they come here, they would probably have a better idea on how to go about their business."
Eden Park is one of the more unusual venues in international cricket, where the straight boundaries are the shortest on the ground, about 63 metres on the night, with the square boundaries at 63 and 66 metres. A strong southwesterly also blew across the ground through the evening, with temperatures dropping to around 12 degrees. Phillips said afterwards he could not remember the wind ever being that strong at Eden Park, and that the bounce was "probably second to maybe Perth.”
Phillips, who added 115 off 40 balls with Michael Bracewell, said the pair had used the wind to their advantage. "We really just talked about the fact that the wind from this end was probably the easier end to go from, but obviously the way Beast [Bracewell] hits, that doesn't really matter which end he goes from. To be able to take that momentum, especially when it was sort of like a knife-edge part of the game, for us to take it effectively away from India like that was fantastic."
Captain Mitchell Santner credited his bowlers for adjusting to a pitch with more in it than earlier in the series. "Obviously 260 is a good score, but you have to bowl well against these guys, and I think we did. We saw a couple fly through at the start and then you stick to those lengths. Our lengths, our lines were really good tonight, and there's obviously a little bit in the wicket. That's kind of what we wanted for most of the games."
India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, speaking later at the press conference, said the unusual shape of the ground and the evening conditions had made life difficult, and that the chase had been undone by India losing their top four inside the Powerplay.
"Eden Park, obviously, it's a challenging ground in terms of dimensions,” Bahutule said. “But I think we were very clear as to what we wanted to do. We were clear in terms of our strengths and we wanted to execute our skills... But it didn't happen," Bahutule said. "While chasing the score, we lost far too many wickets in the Powerplay.
“When we start the game at 8 o'clock, it's cold, it's windy. We maybe could have executed slightly better while chasing. Bowling wise also, we could have not given that many runs. Could have been short of 20-30 runs. But it didn’t happen today. Hopefully we will regroup and recollect and make sure we continue our form in Hamilton.”
Iyer pointed to the third over of New Zealand's innings, when Daryl Mitchell hit Mayank Yadav for 20 off four balls, as the moment the game began to slip, and singled out Glenn Phillips, who made 107 off 49 balls.
"I think we fell a bit short in our bowling to start with,” Iyer said. “Powerplay, especially in the third over, they got that momentum from there on, and a couple of bowlers, they tried to squeeze in, but I think exceptional knock by Glenn. Some phenomenal shots, which were like pure bliss. So kudos to him. He's been consistent throughout the series, so [a] lot to learn from him."
For New Zealand, Phillips said the total had given the side belief that it could post scores of that size while acknowledging no total felt safe against India.
"Obviously you need a ton of runs to even have a sniff of beating India, so for us to be able to put that sort of score on the board today, I guess it'll give us confidence going forward,” Phillips said. “It's our first time being up in that 250 range, at least in the time that I can remember. I don't think you've ever got enough to feel comfortable with this side."
