Death bowlers disappointed in Australia’s defeat. After the disappointment of the Asia Cup, India did not have a special start in the preparations for the T20 World Cup and Australia tasted defeat in Mohali as Australia chased down the target of 209 runs. The hosts were ahead in the match on several occasions but in favorable batting conditions the Australian batsmen displayed both restraint and strength and took a 1–0 lead in the series. How many points out of 10 did the Indian players get in this defeat? You will get the answer here.
What’s right and what’s wrong?
This time we start with the wrong aspects. One thing that is becoming a matter of concern for this team is the bowling in the death overs. The Indian bowlers could not defend 61 runs in the last five overs and veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar as well as returning death over specialist Harshal Patel took runs and the match slipped out of India’s hands.
If anything goes well, it will be KL Rahul getting back in form and that too with a good strike rate. Despite losing two early wickets at the other end, Rahul took an aggressive approach and played a stormy innings. Axar Patel’s bowling was amazing.
Player ratings (1 to 10, 10 highest)
Rohit Sharma , 6.5: Rohit’s score will definitely tell you that he scored 11 runs. However, there will be no mention of his two-shot class or the life he received in this innings. The Indian captain seemed to be in good shape but was dismissed early in an attempt to be aggressive. Apart from this, the captain took the correct review on two occasions, which also benefited the team, but once the team did not even appeal for leg before.
KL Rahul , 9: Leaving behind the criticism for poor strike rate, Rahul batted well. Playing amazing shots, he showed why he is considered an important member of this team. His partnership with Suryakumar was instrumental in laying the foundation for the team’s big score.
Virat Kohli , 5: After the century in the last match, everyone expected that Kohli would maintain that momentum. However, Australia did not give him momentum in the beginning of the innings and then he was dismissed for playing a shot. His car could not even go into first gear. He worked hard in fielding and saved runs for the team.
Suryakumar Yadav , 8: Suryakumar did what he is known for. Taking shots around the ground, he provided the middle-order the pace the team needed. His innings with a strike rate of 184 included four spectacular sixes.
Hardik Pandya , 10: If my bus goes, I will give 11 out of 10 to Hardik. 71 not out off 30 balls with the bat and two overs with the ball. What else can you ask for from your all-rounder player? Hardik’s quick batting took India past 200.
Dinesh Karthik , 5.5: After playing only one ball in the Asia Cup, Karthik returned to the XI. However, the team again sent Akshar ahead of them today and it was not digested. Well Karthik didn’t make much impact but good wicketkeeping got him an extra half point.
Akshar Patel , 9.5: Hardik is followed by Akshar who should have got full 10 marks out of 10. He could not walk with the bat but he was the only bowler who kept India in this match. He took three wickets giving runs at an economy of four and a half. A catch left in the field took away half his number.
Harshal Patel , 6: For Harshal, who is returning to the team after recovering from injury, this match was worth forgetting. After proving costly in the first two overs, he conceded only six runs in his third over. However, his 22 runs in the last over became a reason for the team’s defeat. He is the death overs specialist of this team and the team will expect him to perform better.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar , 5: Bhuvneshwar neither got wickets in the powerplay nor saved runs in the death. His bowling, especially in the death overs, has not proved to be effective and Bhuvneshwar made up for the rest after Harshal’s over. He is still a deadly bowler with the new ball and the fewer days like this, the better. It was not his decision or the team management’s decision to keep the wicketkeeper on the stumps on the very first ball. Finch has a problem with the ball coming in and Bhuvneshwar is the master of it. In such a situation, it seemed that India gave a lifeline to Finch even before he came to the crease.
Umesh Yadav , 7: Umesh, playing his first T20 International since 2019, took two wickets. These two wickets got the team back in the middle order. He also gave 27 runs in two overs which was a matter of concern.
Yuzvendra Chahal , 6.5: Today was not Chahal’s day. He could not trouble the batsmen with his spin or mix in pace. This team looks for wickets in the middle overs and Chahal completes it. He failed in this match and got a wicket in the form of David in the last over.