Young Indian left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed on Friday (8th February) revealed the strategy behind the tourists’ dominance in Auckland after India leveled the three-match T20 International series 1-1 with a seven-wicket victory at the Eden Park against New Zealand.
Khaleel said that the Indian pacers were instructed to bowl back of the length to the Black Caps to prevent the batsmen from putting boundaries in the second T20I and their plan really worked, as India conceded 14 boundaries and eight sixes in the first match, while conceded only eight fours and six sixes at the small Eden Park ground.
In the 80-runs defeat in the first T20I, Khaleel conceded 50 plus runs in his four overs, but he brilliantly came back in Auckland and finished with figures of 2 for 29 in four overs on Friday.
At the post-match press conference, Khaleel told reporters about India's plan to contain boundaries at Eden Park, “Because the ground was small, we deliberately bowled back of a length to curtail boundaries. We had to shorten the length as conventional swing was not on offer. We showed a lot of improvement today and hope to improve further in the next game.”
On the inputs given by skipper Rohit Sharm, the youngster said, “Rohit Bhai told us about which are the areas batsmen will target and how to cut the angles.”
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan speedster feels that the bowling into the wind is one of the major challenges for the tourists in New Zealand. He further added on the same, “One difficulty that we face in New Zealand while bowling is running into the wind which is a rarity elsewhere. But then these are little things that you learn and it’s a great experience.”
The third and final T20I will be played in Hamilton, where India had a nightmarish experience being bowled out for 92 in the fourth ODI in seamer-friendly conditions, and Khaleel is looking forward to the thrilling encounter, saying India rectified some of their past mistakes and ready for the exciting affair.
He added, “We have played in Hamilton and there won’t be any surprise element as far as the pitch is concerned. Also, having won the second game gives us confidence going into the final match.”
Khaleel signed off by saying, “We have rectified some of our mistakes from the first game and hopefully a few which are there will also be corrected. The last time we played at Seddon Park, the ball swung a lot and we had a batting collapse. I believe the final T20 will be a much more exciting affair. Normally, we are getting batting tracks and hopefully, this will aid bowlers.”
(With PTI Inputs)
