It is good to see James Neesham do justice to his talent: Sunil Gavaskar

England locked horns with New Zealand in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021 and Kiwis scripted a stunning comeback to win the game by five wickets. Talking about the heroes of the game, all-rounder James Neesham played extraordinary innings for his team to bring them back in the game. When the required net run rate was getting over their head, Neesham’s 27 off 11 did wonder.

Neesham smashed Chris Jordan out of the park in the death over and things started changing for them. In the same light, former Indian player Sunil Gavaskar has come to pour in a few praise words for the Kiwi all-rounder. Gavaskar added that Neesham did the right justice to his talent today.

He has the ability and it was great to see him hitting the ball so well, reckoned the Indian legend. Though Daryl Mitchell’s 72* off 47 pushed New Zealand to get over the line, it was Neesham’s clean hitting that changed the course of the game.

“Jimmy Neesham has been a player who would play one special innings in about eight or nine and he played that today,” said Gavaskar while speaking to India Today.

Clearly, James Neesham has got the ability: Sunil Gavaskar

“What an innings, scoring at a strike rate of over 240. He was hitting the ball well. He had a bit of luck with that Jonny Bairstow catch which went over the boundary and it became a six. But clearly, Neesham has got the ability. He is a big hitter, he can bowl usefully and Kane Williamson showed faith in him by giving him the 20th over of the England innings so yes, it is good to see Jimmy Neesham do justice to his talent,” he added.

Gavaskar also added towards the end that skipper Kane Williamson’s influence on his team has been huge. The way he leads his team is commendable and it pushes his teammates to get going better, mulled the former batter. It has to be noted that Williamson had now led NZ to the final of T20 WC, ODI WC, and WTC.