Former Sri Lankan cricketer praised that the bowler Ravi Bishnoi will be India’s third spin option in T20 World Cup following his impressive performance in T20I series against Australia.
Bishnoi to be India’s third option in T20 World Cup
India will be having only six T20I matches for India before the ICC event that starts on June 2024. On this occasion, the young spinner has moved ahead of the veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the order.
Chahal’s exclusion from the T20I series in India’s South Africa tour has hinted that the young spinner will be more opt for the third spin option. Chahal has played 9 T20Is and whooped 9 wickets while Bishnoi dismissed 18 wickets on 11 matches he played.
During the T20I series against Australia tour of India 2023, Bishnoi emerged as the Player of the Series as he whooped 9 wickets from 5 matches. He also bowled on any condition which highlights him as the best spinner in the series.
Bishnoi was not in the form during the first T20I match where he gave 54 runs in four overs. He also dropped a catch and was involved in a few misfields. But he gave a comeback and kept his run rate below 8.
He bowled over 20 overs in the series, out of which seven were in the Power Play where he dismissed five wickets with an economy rate of 6.45. Even the Aussies captain Matthew Wade admitted that it was not easy to bat against Bishnoi.
“Their spinners bowled well. They got us tied down and we couldn’t break away in that middle period. So, that was probably the biggest difference in the game.
“Bishnoi has been great throughout the four games. He has been quite hard to get a hold of. Some of our guys with less experience will learn a lot from facing him,” said Wade. The legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan highlighted his performance in the game.
“Bishnoi is different from any other leg spinner out there. He bowls quicker and he slides the ball a lot, and it is tough to face him on helpful wickets,” Muralitharan said on media.
He showed his precision in the ball by dismissing the Aussies star Travis Head. He was the one who created pressure during the World Cup finals where India suffered a defeat.
During the T20I match at Bangalore, he was destructive as he scored 28 runs in 18 balls which included five fours and a six. But Bishnoi dismissed him at ease after SKY gave him to bowl in the fifth over.
However, he has to work hard to earn a spot in India’s squad for the ICC event next year.
“Bishnoi has given this Indian side the option of a solid third spinner now. It is not easy to come in for someone like Chahal. But Bishnoi has made it look easy, and I hope he continues that,” a former India spinner told PTI.
“The T20 World Cup is going to be played in the West Indies and the USA and the pitches there might offer some assistance to the spinners. Having three quality players in that department will give the team a certain edge,” he added.
India will be playing a three-match T20I series against South Africa starting on December 10 at Kingsmead Cricket Ground.
