India’s burgeoning concern at death overs has been an issue which Men in Blue fail to have any answers for. Not the first time India’s death over bowling has been a let-down and the chief reason for losing games umpteen numbers of times.
The fragility of the Indian team during death overs reared its ugly head again in the first T20I at Mohali against Australia. India’s ineptitude and helplessness were palpable at death over bowling as they failed to defend a solid target of 209.
This invited scathing remarks and India’s star experienced bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar landed in hot water as 51 runs spluttered in his four overs quota.
Amid the criticism, Pakistan's head coach Matthew Hayden went against the grain and defended Bhuvneshwar Kumar as a player with credibility that needs backing and called him someone who can still be banked upon as a finisher for India with the ball.
"I disagree with that, I think he can and has been a very good finisher. I think that's his role, I mean, obviously, his role is to take wickets up front but if your skipper wants an over or two from you at the end, then he can do that," Hayden told Star Sports
India’s ace medium pacer who is renowned for his death bowling at the IPL has had a bumpy ride so far with the ball for quite some time, markedly since the just concluded Asia Cup. Before being thrashed for 20 runs in the nineteenth over which sealed the fate of Australia’s win on the horizon, Kumar gave 19 and 14 runs against Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the recent Asia Cup.
Australia power packed batting wreaked havoc on India in a high-scoring thriller which saw Team India going down to the visitors by four wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series on Tuesday (September 20).
Rohit Sharma & Co's frailties with the ball were laid bare as Australia gunned down a formidable 209-run target rather comfortably with four balls to spare to start their campaign on a high.
Matthew Wade's 45 off 21 and Cameron Green's 61 off 30 were too hot for India despite KL Rahul's handsome 55 off 35 and Hardik Pandya's stunning 71 off 30.
India's bowling once again looked in lurch in absence of their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He was missed badly in the series opener against Australia on Tuesday as the visitors chased down 209 rather comfortably. Barring Axar Patel, all bowlers leaked more than 11 runs per over.
