India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning member Dinesh Karthik criticised the Men in Blue for their game awareness after the loss to Ireland in the second and final T20I of the series. The contest was played on Sunday, June 28, in Belfast.
Chasing 155, the visitors needed 21 runs off the last seven balls, with Arshdeep Singh on strike on one off two and Harshit Rana at the non-striker’s end on 14 off six. On the final ball of the penultimate over, Arshdeep took a single. Although he rotated the strike on the first legitimate delivery of the final over, India eventually finished on 153/9, losing by one run.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik noted that India would have wanted Harshit on strike at the start of the final over. He added that, had Harshit hit a six off the first ball, the pressure could have shifted onto Harry Tector. Karthik further remarked that one would expect better game awareness from a World Cup-winning side. He said:
“And also a little bit of presence of mind for batting as well, you have to say. India were in a decent place. They were chasing down a total. They required 21 off seven. Arshdeep and Harshit Rana. But guess what? When 21 off seven was required, Arshdeep hits a ball and takes a single. Ideally, you would want somebody like Harshit Rana taking strike at the start of the over because that would put pressure.
“In case he hits a six on the first ball, that would mean the pressure is back on the bowler in the last over, which it could easily have been because it was Harry Tector bowling, but that wasn’t meant to be. So, small little lapses in terms of game awareness for a champion side. India are a World Cup-winning side; you would expect better,” he added.
Meanwhile, the defeat saw Ireland script history by whitewashing India in the two-match series.
“India will be very happy with the output that they saw” – Dinesh Karthik praises debutant after 2nd T20I vs Ireland
In the same video, Dinesh Karthik lauded Men in Blue debutant Prince Yadav, who impressed with figures of 3/22 in four overs. The 41-year-old said:
“Prince Yadav, who bowled beautifully, mainly because he again bowled just the one over in the powerplay. But the way he was able to come back and use his skills. Yes, he got two of his three wickets at the back end, but the key was the lengths that he bowled. He just gave away 22 runs, bowled very nicely, and I think India will be very happy with the output that they saw from Prince Yadav.”
Prince will next be in action when Shreyas Iyer’s side take on England in the five-match T20I series, starting on July 1, in Chester-le-Street.
Edited by Dev Sharma