After defeat in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack in Orissa against South Africa, the Indian team is 0-2 down with the third match to be played on June 14th in Vizag.
Despite limiting the visitors to a 29/3 during the powerplay in a chase of 149 runs, the Indian team failed to hold the momentum, as the Proteas emerged victorious with seven wickets and five balls to spare thanks to Heinrich Klaasen's 81 off 46 balls.
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan said that India has to capitalize on the opportunities. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalping three wickets in the powerplay, the Men in Blue were in a strong position to fight back, which they failed to build on.
Talking to Cricbuzz, Zaheer said, “That is the worry. You are creating a platform from where you can win a game of cricket but you are not able to close it. When this happens, your morale and the processes which you are following gets damaged. That is what you don't want right now with a big World Cup coming up.”
The 43-year-old former southpaw added that the team has to develop a winning habit regardless of who is taking the field.
“You want to make a habit of winning games regardless of who is taking the field. I know that key players are not part of the series. You still have a brand of cricket that you have been playing and created those platforms for to win games and you are not able to close it. The culture in the team is very important to protect,” he said.
“It's not going to be easy to go and win all three games coming up. It is a good challenge as well. You have a day of travel and then you take the field, it's not going to be easy.”
Speaking up on Bhuvneshwar’s effectiveness as a bowler, Zaheer said, "He keeps things very simple. He has the experience of playing at this level and he keeps it wicket to wicket. He hits those areas and lengths, brings the balls back into the right-handers and some hold their shape or he takes them away. That is what he does brilliantly.
“When (Dwaine) Pretorius was there, he knew that his role was to be attacking and take that extra risk. So he used the knuckleball. He understands exactly what to use for which player. He is an experienced campaigner. Fitness has been an issue but now it is just about maintaining himself. What we are going to get from Bhuvi is always going to be the same," he signed off.
(CricBuzz inputs)
