Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan praised Ravi Bishnoi for his maturity under pressure during the crucial Super-4 encounter between India and Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.
Playing his first match in the tournament, Bishnoi impressed everyone with his bowling as he got the prized scalp of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam in his very first over. He was the most economical bowler for his team, conceding just 26 runs in 4 overs.
“As far as the bowling is concerned, obviously this bowling unit needs to get better in many departments but I thought in the first half they bowled really well and Bishnoi, specially Bishnoi playing his first game that too against Pakistan in this Asia Cup, there was a lot of pressure." Pathan said on the ‘Follow the Blues’ show on Star Sports.
“But the way he handled the power play and got the prize wicket of Babar Azam it was fantastic to see. It is not easy, the pressure on the Indian bowlers during the game against Pakistan is a lot and Bishnoi had (has) handled the pressure very well," he added.
Pathan further hailed Rohit Sharma's captaincy for managing his bowlers well and using the spinners when necessary.
“A captain can be tested on two things specially how he handles the bowler, specially when the bowlers are new and when you are defending too. These two times you get to realize and I have seen time and again Rohit Sharma is a fantastic leader. He manages the bowlers really well, he knows when to play which bowler," he said.
“(He) Made Bishnoi bowl an over during the power play, he had taken a wicket but he still kept him waiting, did not let him bowl another over, and got him again after Chahal’s over as he knows Bishnoi is a different kind of bowler, not a typical leg spin bowler, doesn’t bowl side arm so it was difficult for Pakistan to read his bowling style that is why he had given just 8 runs off his first two overs," he added further.
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On Sunday (September 4), India posted 181/7 owing to Virat Kohli's scintillating knock (60 off 44 balls). In reply, Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan put on a spectacle (71 off 51 balls) and stitched a 73-run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz who too played an explosive inning, 42 off just 20 balls.
The Men in Green emerged victorious at the end with just a ball and 5 wickets to spare.
The former left-arm seamer also hoped that with the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, the Men in Blue will be able to put on a better performance in the T20 World Cup 2022, slated to be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13.
“Rohit Sharma manages the team very well and I hope that when the whole team is back, having Bumrah, Harshal Patel we’ll get to see a better performance from team India which we want to see specially if you see it from the lens of the World Cup," he remarked.
In what will be a do-or-die encounter, Rohit and his men will take on Sri Lanka in Dubai on Tuesday (September 06).
(STAR SPORTS INPUTS)
