Cheteshwar Pujara has praised Shreyas Iyer's tactical acumen and India's disciplined bowling unit for successfully defending 223 in the third T20I at Indore, while also singling out Abhishek Sharma's rapid ascent to 2,000 T20I runs as a defining marker of his emergence in the shortest format.

Iyer's Tactical Reset After Ranchi Defeat

India's ability to turn the series around in Indore after a loss in Ranchi drew particular attention from Pujara, who highlighted the role of leadership in identifying and correcting tactical flaws between matches. The former India Test batter argued that the turnaround was rooted in planning as much as execution.

'I think India did a great job because they needed to come up with a good game plan after getting defeated in Ranchi. As captain, Shreyas Iyer corrected those mistakes and was talking to his bowlers as to how to bowl and what strategy they could use to defend the total. The execution by the bowlers was spot-on. A captain always looks good when his players do their job for the team. But yes, Shreyas showed good maturity, and so did the Indian bowlers,' Pujara told JioStar.

Notably, defending a sub-250 total in T20 cricket demands both disciplined line-and-length bowling and sharp field placements. That India managed it after a chastening loss underscores a level of collective resilience Pujara was keen to acknowledge.

Abhishek Sharma's 2,000 T20I Runs — Why the Milestone Stands Out

Abhishek Sharma's arrival at 2,000 runs in T20 internationals has added a significant chapter to what is still an early career. Pujara was effusive about the left-handed opener's impact, drawing a striking comparison with the legendary Chris Gayle of the West Indies — widely regarded as one of the most destructive batters the T20 format has produced.

'Nobody thought that he would cross such a big milestone so quickly. But the way Abhishek has performed, I think he is probably one of the best T20 players the Indian team has had so far. His name will be remembered for a long time. When we talk about the T20 format, we immediately think of Chris Gayle from the West Indies,' Pujara said.

He added: 'Abhishek has that kind of ability. The way he showed maturity, especially in Indore, by taking a little time, even though five-six balls is a lot of time for him, shows that he is understanding his game a little better, recognising the opposition's strengths, and batting accordingly.'

Hyderabad Familiarity Could Be a Key Factor

With the series moving to Hyderabad, Pujara pointed to Abhishek's familiarity with the venue as a potential advantage. 'Now, in Hyderabad, he has played a lot on that ground, and that experience and familiarity matter, even in T20s,' he noted. Ground knowledge — pitch behaviour, boundary dimensions, dew patterns — can be a subtle but meaningful edge in the shortest format, particularly for batters who rely on early aggression.

What This Means for the Series

India's recovery in Indore has set the stage for what promises to be a closely contested remaining leg of the T20I series. Iyer's growing authority as a white-ball captain and Abhishek's surging confidence as an opener give India credible bases to build on. How both respond to the conditions in Hyderabad will be closely watched.