Half-centurion Shreyas Iyer, while summing up India's 30-run win in the third and final T20I of the series against Bangladesh, said the real stars of the day were the bowlers, in particular record-breaking Deepak Chahar and young Shivam Dube, who bounced back with two timely wickets after showing nerves earlier in the run-chase.
Defending 175, Deepak got India early breakthroughs but then Bangladesh's Mohammad Naim and Mohammad Mithun stitched a 98-run stand that threatened to take the game away from the hosts.
Deepak, however, finally got India back with the wicket of Mithun which followed Dube's double-wicket over that saw the back of Naim and highly experienced Mushfiqur Rahim.
Deepak cleaned up the rest of the Bangladeshi batting unit and finished with amazing figures of 6/7, including a hat-trick.
"There were two [turning points] - when Chahar came in and got us two wickets in his first over. And then Dube getting those two back to back wickets," Iyer said after the win that sealed the T20I series 2-1 in Nagpur on Sunday (November 10). "We were feeling the pressure and we know they are a very good team. In the previous two games, we saw the quality of cricket they played was mesmerising."
"We were a bit lethargic but Rohit gave us a pep talk. We were determined to win the game from thereon. I wasn't surprised. They've always got close and they are a very good team."
Earlier, Iyer made a blistering 33-ball 62 and KL Rahul scored 52 magnificent runs in 35 balls as India posted a fighting total of 174/5. While Rahul was at his fluent best against both pacers and spinners, Iyer, as usual, took a greater liking for the latter category of bowlers.
"The over in which I got three sixes changed the momentum completely because we would have otherwise finished around 150-155," he said of his exploits against off-spinner Afif Hossain. "That total would have been really tough to defend as the wicket got better in the second [half]."
"I would give myself the credit. Also KL, because it was important for the top three to bat till the 15th over and he played his role to perfection."
"The side has given me the freedom. When we go in to bat, we need to have that intent and you should be positive. I think that if the ball is pitching in my area, I am not going to control myself and I'll back my instincts. I wanted to take ten balls and then back myself," Iyer added.
"There's a lot of competition going on and I personally feel that I compete with myself. I don't want to compete with anyone else. I am really open-minded and I can bat at any number."
"Today's innings showed I can bat under pressure as well. It was important for me and for the team. It has been really important to set the benchmark at the No. 4 position. They've given me a heads up and they want me to believe in myself."
(Inputs from cricbuzz)
