Batting great VVS Laxman lauded the bowlers for India’s series-levelling 7-wicket victory over England in the second T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 14).
"In what is fast becoming the norm, India again bounced back from defeat in the first match of a series to haul themselves into contention. Ideally, you'd want to start strongly and fire the first salvo, but there's no denying the resolve and the resilience of this Indian team," Laxman wrote in his column for the Times of India.
With the ball, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur were the stand-out performers for the hosts, claiming 2 wickets by conceding 29 runs each in their respective four overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-28) was also economical and took the prized scalp of Jos Buttler for nought as India restricted the visitors to 164/6 in 20 overs.
"The genesis for their commanding win in the second T20I lay in a clinical bowling performance. After Virat Kohli won a significant toss, Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone. He dismissed Jos Buttler in the first over, and when he realised there was no swing on offer, he brought his variations into the play with the new ball itself. It's important that the experienced hands understand the conditions and the requirements at the earliest so that the message percolates through the ranks. That's where Bhuvi was as exemplary as in the execution of his skills," Laxman said.
"The bowling performance was excellent on a tacky surface in the first half. Washington Sundar continued to use his height and intelligence to good effect, Yuzvendra Chahal asked difficult questions of Jason Roy with his outside-off line and Shardul Thakur was outstanding at the death as India choked England in the last five overs. Most encouraging was Hardik Pandya playing as the fifth bowling option, a rarity in recent times. Virat used him superbly. Hardik the all-rounder changes the dynamic of the Indian set-up, as was evident on Sunday night," he further remarked.
Shikhar Dhawan, who made 4 off 12 balls in the opening T20I, was benched for the second game as India handed debut cap to Ishan Kishan, who smashed 32-ball 56 to lay a strong foundation.
"I felt for Shikhar Dhawan, benched after just one opportunity; that's not fair on anyone, let alone a seasoned player. But the man who replaced him lit up Motera with a fabulous knock. Ishan Kishan's excellent form in the IPL and in subsequent domestic tournaments helped him break the door open to the Indian team, and he showcased the same fearlessness and positivity with a magnificent knock on debut. He didn't go hell for leather but picked his areas judiciously and, like Rishabh Pant, has evolved from a leg-side basher to a more rounded batsman," Laxman wrote.
Struggling to post a substantial score lately, Virat Kohli also played a vital role with the bat in India’s thumping victory. The Indian skipper, who shared a 94-run stand for the second wicket with Kishan, slammed 73 not out off 49 balls to take his team over the line with 13 balls to spare.
"Ishan's aggression allowed Virat to bat himself in. In the first match, the skipper seemed in an uncharacteristic hurry, losing shape as he tried to hit the ball too hard too early. The sign of a class act is in recognising and rectifying mistakes at the earliest, and Virat is nothing if not a batsman supreme. Having batted around the two younger left-handers at the start, he unleashed his full fury towards the end in another exhibition of his mastery of chasing. India's reinvented approach to the 20-over game was vindicated by the seven-wicket win, but it also showed that discretion is always the better part of valour. This series between the world's two best T20 teams is beautifully balanced with three to play," Laxman concluded.
(With TOI inputs)
