Mitchell Santner said "the small stuff" - referring to dropped catches and misfields - cost New Zealand as they allowed India to recover from 70 for 5 to chase down 181 during the second T20I in Christchurch, otherwise New Zealand "could have easily been 2-0 up as well" in the five-match series.
"[There was] some small stuff that's kind of, I wouldn't say let us down, but it can change games quickly," Santner said after the game. "[Christchurch] is a tough catching ground, and the wind kind of swells a little bit. I think if you look at the skills of both teams, it's been very close and it's come down to some small moments in the field. Especially us [at] the back end of that chase tonight. I think we were in a very good position, you know, [before] a couple of dropped catches and misfields. And that's the winning or losing of the game."
New Zealand reprieved four of India's batters. Jacob Duffy overstepped in the second over to give Abhishek Sharma a life in the second over of the chase, then Santner dropped Sanju Samson right on the fence, off the first ball of Lockie Ferguson's spell. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dropped by Bevon Jacobs off Michael Bracewell, then Jacobs dropped Naman Dhir in the 13th over as well.
Santner also acknowledged the batting from Tilak Varma - who scored an unbeaten 26-ball 51 - as well as Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy as the turning point of the chase. "I think Tilak took his time a little bit today, but managed the chase very well with Reddy at the end. If you can finish off games as a finisher, you're doing a pretty good job. I think it was a great knock from those last three [specialist batters] tonight.
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"I guess I've seen [Tilak batting] for a couple of years now at Mumbai [Indians]. He's very good. And same with Naman Dhir. I think he looks… so free from the start [at the crease]."
New Zealand were not at a big disadvantage bowling in the second innings despite being put in to bat first in Christchurch. "There was less dew tonight than there was in the first game, because the wind was up a little bit," Santner said. "But I think it's going to be a factor throughout the series. I guess with [the games] being so late… by the second half, the ball seems to skid on a little bit better.
"I think both teams, both games, are looking to bowl first. And I guess two chases, even though tonight was a tight chase, it's still two wins for the chasing team."
After these two games in Christchurch, the teams now head to Wellington for the third T20I of a five-match series, to be played on October 27. India currently lead the series 2-0. "We'll go assess the conditions again in Wellington," Santner said. "[We will] see what the pitch does, see what team we're going to go, and then go out there and try and fire some shots again at India."