Follow UsDespite scoring 222 runs in the first innings at the Barsapara stadium in Guwahati, courtesy of a 123* off just 57 balls from Ruturaj Gaikwad, India lost the third T20I of the ongoing bilateral series against Australia by five wickets. Glenn Maxwell was again a hero for the Kangaroos with a 104* off just 48 balls, which eclipsed Gayakwad’s innings.
At one stage in the chase, Australia needed 95 runs in seven overs. The equation became 145-5 at the end of the 15th over, with Australia needing 78 runs in the last five and the required run rate touching 15. However, Maxwell played a blitzkrieg of an innings and took his team home in an incredulous chase.
Indian bowlers leaking so many runs in the death overs raised many eyebrows. Dispelling any such concern, Gaikwad said in the press conference,
“ I don’t think so it’s a concern. Because it’s almost like you are bowling with a wet ball. And in these kinds of situations or conditions where 12 RPO or 13-14 RPO are gettable.”
Even in the first game of the series, where India chased 209 at Visakhapatnam, the Men In Blue needed 103 runs off the last ten overs. In the end, India achieved the target with ease (despite a brief lower-order collapse). Gaikwad cited this example to extend his support to India’s death bowlers.
“Even while we were chasing the first game, we saw how easily we managed to chase 210 [209]. So definitely not a concern at all. It’s just that conditions are slightly tougher for them [death bowlers], and we have to accept and move on.” He also added that the “…bowlers tried executing whatever they had in control, and there was a lot of dew around as well the ball was slipping a lot, so I think it was tough for the bowlers as well.”
Gaikwad also credited Maxwell for his innings and called it the “turning point” of the match. “I think even Maxi batted really well. To win from a situation where they needed 100 from seven, seven and a half overs and then 50 from three overs. I think it was creditable innings from him.” he acknowledged.
When asked about his own performance with the bat that allowed India to post a mammoth total, Gaikwad was at his modest best, just saying that he’s “happy that I [he] scored a hundred.”
However, he did mention how it was slightly tougher to bat as the pitch “was slightly tacky, the ball was stopping a bit, and there was some movement in the air and from the pitch as well.” Hence, “It was important that we stitch a partnership, and then once you know after 7-8 overs, the wicket got slightly better”, Gaikwas added.
This partnership-building approach was evident as well, as, at the end of the 10th over, Gaikwad had scored just 21 at a run-a-ball.
When asked about his slow start, he said, “Pitch and the situation [matter] as well, you know. Because you can not tend to lose three wickets in the powerplay. Knowing that Surya was there, and he will play his shots, so my plan and communication was simple that I’ll bat for a short span of time and then take the innings forward.”
The series is well poised at 2-1 in favour of the hosts, with the next two games scheduled to be held in Raipur and Bengaluru on December 1 and 3 respectively.