Despite bowling really effectively in the second T20I against New Zealand in Lucknow, spin magician Yuzvendra Chahal was only allotted two overs. The 32-year-old took the crucial wicket of Finn Allen while conceding just four runs.
Former India international Gautam Gambhir was not pleased and chastised captain Hardik Pandya for failing to complete Chahal’s quota of four overs. He argued that the decision made little sense, particularly given that he is now India’s number one spinner in the game’s shortest version.
“A huge surprise. I can’t answer this question, especially on this wicket. Chahal is your go-to spinner in the T20 format. “It makes no sense to me to ask him to bowl two overs, in which he took the crucial wicket of Finn Allen, and then not use his entire quota of overs,” Gambhir stated after the game on Star Sports.
Surprisingly, despite the fact that a part-time spinner in the shape of Deepak Hooda was handed four overs, Chahal was not. Gambhir feels it is crucial to give kids like Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi an opportunity to deliver, but he also believes Chahal should have been given more overs.
“Yes, you want to give young individuals like Arshdeep Singh or Shivam Mavi another chance. However, Chahal may have been bowled in the penultimate over or sooner. So I believe he blew it. He might have bowled New Zealand for 80 or 85 runs, and on this kind of wicket, you don’t want to let the opponent off the hook. “What a surprise, inviting Hooda to bowl four overs but not Chahal,” Gambhir added.
Despite this, India triumphed by six wickets and levelled the three-match T20I series. Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Match in a low-scoring match for his unbeaten 26 off 31 deliveries.
