Follow UsRavi Bishnoi, ahead of the fourth T20I against Australia, lavished praise on stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav and lauded the 33-year-old for giving bowlers complete freedom in terms of everything - whether it be the fields they want to set or the plans they want to execute.
With both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya unavailable, Suryakumar was tasked with the responsibility of leading India in the five-match series against Australia. The 33-year-old, prior to the series, had never led internationally but had plenty of experience captaining Mumbai, at both the state level and the IPL, and some of that experience has shown in this series, in which India are currently leading the Aussies 2-1 after three games.
Bishnoi, who has played under five different captains in T20Is, was full of praise for Suryakumar’s leadership.
"He has been doing great captaincy in last 2-3 matches,” Bishnoi said ahead of the 4th T20I.
"As a captain, Surya bhai gives you a free hand, he gives you all the right to place the fielders, the length that you want to bowl but you have to deliver in your execution.”
Two days ago, Suryakumar came close to winning his first series as captain but was denied by a Glenn Maxwell special. However, he and his men will have another opportunity to seal the series, in the fourth T20I in Raipur on Friday.
Bishnoi described the opportunity at hand for some of the younger players like him as ‘rare’, and asserted that the focus, come Friday, will be on executing the plans correctly.
"It is a great opportunity for young players from both the teams because such opportunities come rare when senior players are rested. We have a great chance to win the series," the 23-year-old said.
"We have a lot of young players so we will look to execute the plans, the focus will be on execution."
It’s been a tough series for bowlers, with every match overseeing at least only 200+ total, but Bishnoi has been among the best bowlers, having taken 6 wickets in 3 games. His economy rate might look like it’s on the higher side (E.R 9.83) but the 23-year-old has bowled tight overs at crucial junctures, and his E.R has taken a hit due to the fact of him operating a lot inside the powerplay.
The leg-spinner insisted that he’s been pleased with the way he’s been bowling, and revealed that he’s done a lot of work bowling with wet balls in order to get accustomed to the dew.
"I am happy with my bowling and I will try and win the series for India,” Bishnoi said.
"We try to practice with wet bowls. I have done well in the last two matches despite the dewy conditions. I try not to give loose deliveries. If a batsman goes for a shot then it's okay, but if I bowl loose balls, that is not acceptable to me.”
The final two T20Is will mark the return of Shreyas Iyer, and Bishnoi said that the veteran’s comeback will be a big boost for the young side.
"It will make a big impact in our batting lineup,” Bishnoi said of Iyer’s return.
"He brings a lot of reputation in T20 cricket and has been in good form in the World Cup. As a senior player his experience will also help us."