As India attempted to make a comeback in the T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack in the second T20I of the series, all eyes were on Rishabh Pant and his captaincy strategies.
However, many former Indian cricketers questioned Pant's captaincy after the Men in Blue failed to win the second match and gave South Africa a 2-0 lead, with three matches to go.
Former India cricketer Ashish Nehra believes Pant made another error in his bowling approach in the second T20I against the Proteas, in which India lost by four wickets.
South Africa was reduced to 29-3 at the end of the powerplay, thanks to Bhuvneshwar Kumar's outstanding display with the new ball. Pant then inserted Yuzvendra Chahal against Henrich Klaasen and Temba Bavuma, two right-handed batters.
After the game, Nehra told Cricbuzz that Pant should have brought in left-arm spinner Akshar Patel into the mix because he had two right-handers in the middle. Pant, however, chose Chahal, Hardik Pandya, and Harshal Patel instead, and by the time Akshar arrived, the two appeared to be in good shape.
"Changes to the playing XI, depends on the conditions in Vizag. Rishabh Pant also needs to take a look, he held back Akshar Patel for so long. There were two right-hand batters at that time. I don't see any reason why Axar Patel was not given an over at that time," said Nehra.
Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who was part of the same discussion, said, "Reading the game becomes very important in such situations, especially in this format. Klassen was struggling initially and he had to change gears. Although he played spin really well today, there was a chance to bring in Axar Patel against him."
Another blunder in Nehra’s opinion was to handover the ball to Hardik during the powerplay instead of keeping it up with Avesh Khan.
"Avesh Khan bowled a good first over, but his spell was halted and Pandya was brought in for the fourth over. Some players think that the batters get familiar with the bowler and because of that, they change the bowler. Any bowler would wish, upon seeing that the new ball is moving around, to bowl one more over in that conditions," he said.
India will face the Proteas for the third T20I on June 14 in Vishakhapatnam.
(CricBuzz inputs)
