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Team India’s coach, Rahul Dravid, illuminated the rationale behind skipper Rohit Sharma‘s bold choice to entrust leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi with the ball for the second Super Over in the electrifying third T20I against Afghanistan. The pulsating contest in Bangalore on Wednesday (January 17) etched its place in history as the first-ever international game decided by a double Super Over.
Rohit Sharma’s bold move to go with Ravi Bishnoi
The gripping fixture, marked by Afghanistan’s valiant pursuit of the 213 runs target, kept spectators on the edge of their seats. When the first Super Over failed to yield a result, Rohit, exemplifying remarkable courage, handed the ball to Bishnoi for the second super over. In just three balls, Bishnoi dismantled both Afghan batters, securing India’s defense of their 11 runs total.
Rahul Dravid unravels Rohit’s gutsy decision-making
In the post-match interview with the broadcaster, Dravid delved into the possible reasoning behind Bishnoi bowling the second Super Over. He lauded Rohit for his audacious decision, asserting that Afghanistan would likely have emerged victorious had they batted through the entire over. Consequently, Rohit’s decision to go for the kill was the correct one.
“I think Rohit went with his gut, he went with a call… I think he felt that the spinner had a better chance to take those two wickets. It was one of games when 11 wasn’t probably a huge score and where you know that if they batted those six balls, with the power they had, they probably would’ve got the 12 runs. You needed to take two wickets. I think it was a great call from the skipper to go with the spinner,” Dravid said.
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The 51-year-old also extolled Bishnoi for maintaining his composure and delivering the perfect length to capture two pivotal wickets in the second Super Over.
“He could’ve gone for two sixes but I thought Bishnoi was brilliant, because he bowled two superb balls. He pulled the length back… if the length had gone slightly fuller, the way they were batting, on this small ground it would’ve gone for a six. I think it was really good gut call from Rohit to go for the wickets and be more positive rather than probably a safer option which people would’ve expected,” Dravid concluded.
India’s series triumph
India’s resounding 3-0 triumph over Afghanistan was propelled by stellar performances from Rohit and Rinku Singh with the bat, complemented by Bishnoi’s heroics in the Super Over. Shivam Dube‘s exceptional contributions earned him the Player of the Series accolade, amassing 124 runs in three innings and clinching two wickets.
