INDORE: India was chasing the game for the first 38 overs. But the bowlers pulled the strings back, conceding just 69 runs off the last 12 overs to shift the pendulum in the host’s favour. It eventually played a huge role in India sealing the five-match series against Australia at the end of the third ODI on Sunday.
Australia captain Steve Smith had no qualms in admitting the death overs of its batting essay as a case of “poor execution” by his team and “outstanding execution” by the Indian bowlers. In fact, Smith praised the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
“I think Bumrah and Bhuvi are probably two of the best death bowlers going around, particularly when the wicket sort of slows up a little bit,” Smith said. “We still need to find a way. We set a template really well. The first 38 overs were magnificent. We set it up and we just weren’t to execute it in the back end.”
Even Hardik Pandya, who took another stride towards establishing himself as a reliable all-rounder with an impressive performance with the bat and the ball, said the pace-bowling unit was “pretty amazing”.
“We keep talking to each other, discussing what the wicket is doing and what kind of deliveries we should be bowling. They are outstanding – they bowl equally well at the start and at the death. It’s amazing to have guys like that. It gives me confidence to go all out and express myself,” he said.
Jadeja released
The national selectors have released Ravindra Jadeja, who was called up after left-arm spinner Axar Patel hurt himself ahead of the first ODI in Chennai, from the squad for the last two ODIs.
The 15-member squad also does not include opener Shikhar Dhawan, who left the squad to be with his ailing wife.
Axar bowled a long spell during India’s nets on Saturday. Interestingly, the statement announcing the squad had no explanation on Jadeja’s exclusion. When he was left out of the squad, chief selector M.S.K. Prasad had stated the all-rounder was “rested”, while Jadeja had hinted on social media that it was a “setback” for him.