The former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan reckons that not using the leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for his full quota of overs in the first T20 international against South Africa in Delhi was probably a captaincy error by the newly appointed stand-in Indian captain Rishabh Pant.
According to Zaheer Khan, who was analyzing the game on Cricbuzz, the coaching staff of the Indian team will definitely discuss it with Rishabh and will probably ask him why he did not go for that option when it was one of the wicket-taking options India had.
Zaheer believes that breaking the partnership of David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen was vital for India at that point of time and Chahal was one of those bowlers who could have provided the breakthrough. The required run rate was high and if Chahal had come on to bowl at that stage of the game, the two batsmen had to take risks against him which could have resulted in a dismissal.
Axar’s last over perhaps changed Rishabh’s mind: Zaheer Khan
Trying to understand Rishabh Pant’s point of view, Zaheer Khan also mentioned that it was the 4th over of Axar Patel which might have changed Rishabh’s mind as far as using spin was concerned, because it was a small ground and Miller had hit Axar for two back to back sixes off the last two balls of his spell.
Since Yuzvendra Chahal would also have spun his stock delivery back into the left-hander and might have fallen in Miller’s arc, Rishabh thought using him was perhaps not the right option, but Chahal has bowled in that kind of situation many times before and has provided breakthroughs. There was no reason he could not have done it again.
South Africa chased down the huge total of over 200 set by India in the 20th overs of their innings and took a 1-0 lead in the 5-match T20I series.
