He feels pace was the reason behind India's 8-wicket loss to England in the first T20I.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opined on India’s massive defeat of 8-wicket against England in the five-match T20I series opener on Friday (March 12). He believes that the “pace was the difference” between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
English pacers took 6 of the 7 Indian wickets that fell in the first T20I on Friday with Jofra Archer returning with his best T20I figures of 3-23 in his 4 overs while Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, and all-rounder Ben Stokes picked a wicket each to help the touring side restrict India to paltry 124/7 in Ahmedabad.
On the other hand, the Indian pacers failed to make any impact in the game, as Shardul Thakur and comeback-man Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned with empty hands while the two English wickets were picked by the spinners Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal on Friday.
England chased the paltry total in 15.3 overs against Team India, as Jason Roy and Jos Buttler starred with the bat scoring 49 and 28 respectively while Jonny Bairstow (26*) and Dawid Malan (24*) took the visitors over the line with 27 balls to spare in the first T20I in Ahmedabad.
After India's massive defeat, Irfan took to Twitter and wrote, “What was the reason India lost the first t20 vs England? I think PACE was the difference.”
With the massive win, England took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing five-match T20I series on Friday. The two teams will next lock horns in the second T20I at the same venue on Sunday (March 14).
(With ANI Inputs)