The premier Indian opener, KL Rahul played another match-winning knock to help teh men in blue to chase down a total of 133 to win their second T20I against New Zealand on Sunday at Eden Park in Auckland. Rahul stayed at teh crease till the end and went on to score 57 runs off 50 balls as he stitched an 86-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer. 

India lost its veteran players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma quite early in teh innings, but Rahul and Iyer took the match away from New Zealand after a scintillating performance from the Indian bowlers. Rahul scored a whirlwind knock of 56 runs in the first game as well. 

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Talking about his performance during the post-match presentation ceremony where he was named the man of the match, Rahul said,  “Obviously different circumstances, the target was different and the pitch was different from what we played on a couple of days before. I knew what I had to do, I couldn’t play the same way. I had a different responsibility. We lost Rohit and Kohli early, so I had to stay in there.”

According to Rahul, he understands his game better now, owing to which he has produced a steady run of big scores.

Rahul further added, “The understanding of my game and reading my game has helped me to be more consistent. I always need to keep the team ahead, and what the team requires. I have come up with the right shots and the right answers. That has been my mantra over the last few games and in the T20 format.”

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India has now taken 2-0 lead in the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand after they convincingly chased down 132 runs in the second T20I at Eden Park, Auckland on Sunday with seven wickets in hand.