Cheteshwar Pujara has backed Shreyas Iyer after the India captain struck his maiden Twenty20 International century against the West Indies in Lucknow.
Iyer's unbeaten 102 off 43 balls guided India to an eight-wicket victory at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Pujara said the innings came at the right time for Iyer, who had been searching for form.
He highlighted Iyer's timing, shot selection and ability to identify bowlers to attack.
According to Pujara, the century demonstrated the kind of leadership required from a captain, especially when setting an example for younger teammates.
Pujara told JioHotstar that there were never any questions regarding Iyer's batting because he is an exceptional cricketer in the T20 format.
He noted that Iyer was timing the ball well and clearing the infield during the powerplay, and once set, he started playing big shots and hitting big sixes.
Pujara also commended Naman Dhir for his bowling on his T20I debut.
The batting all-rounder claimed 3-31 and was India's most economical bowler, using changes in line, length and pace to trouble the West Indies batters.
Pujara said it was good to see Dhir using his cricketing intelligence, especially after being hit for a six, by varying his pace and changing his line and length.
He added that as a part-timer, Dhir cannot bowl just the usual stuff and showed he is a quality bowler.
The former India batter said Dhir's performance was an encouraging start but noted that the young bowler would need to adapt to different playing conditions.
Pujara specifically pointed to the challenge of bowling on flatter surfaces, where bowlers may receive less assistance from the pitch.
He said Dhir will have to learn the art of bowling on a flat pitch, but that will come with experience.
India's eight-wicket win gave the team an early advantage in the series.
Iyer's century and Dhir's three-wicket performance provided the main individual highlights of the opening match, according to NDTV Sports.
