Head coach Rahul Dravid credited the bowlers for leading the foundation of India’s series-clinching five-wicket victory over England in the third ODI at Old Trafford on Sunday (July 17).
Opting to bowl first, the visitors restricted the hosts to 259 all-out in 45.5 overs on a good batting wicket and then overhauled the target with 47 deliveries to spare.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya starred with the ball, returning with the figures of 4/24 in his 7 overs while Yuzvendra Chahal (3/60) and Mohammed Siraj (2/66) shared five scalps between them.
"We were fantastic with the ball," Dravid told the BCCI website. "It was exceptional the way we bowled. That was a really good wicket, and to be able to restrict a team like England to 260 [259], we did fantastically well. We picked up a few wickets upfront, then they built a partnership, but I thought our tactics and strategy was absolutely brilliant."
"At the back end, to bowl the short ball with fielders in place, really credit to the team and captain for working on some really good strategies. It really came out really well," he added.
Chasing the target, India were reeling at 72/4 in the 17th over. Amid the pressure situation, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya took matters into their own hands and initiated a counterattack.
The duo took the English attack to the cleaners, stitching a match-winning 133-run partnership for the fifth wicket. While Hardik was dismissed on 55-ball 71, Pant remained unbeaten on 125 off 113 balls to take the tourists over the line.
"The way Hardik and Rishabh responded was superb," Dravid said. "It was really good to see that under pressure with the series on the line. To put in a partnership like that and bat like the way Rishabh and Hardik did was really heartening for us."
The Men in Blue will be next seen in action on the white-ball (three ODIs and five T20Is) tour of West Indies, slated to get underway on July 22.
