Team India’s death bowling concerns became more apparent in the three matches against Australia as all the three pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah went for runs. While two of them were returning from injuries, Bhuvneshwar’s struggles at the death continued from Asia Cup.
Bhuvneshwar, who had faced flak for conceding 19 and 14 runs in the 19th over in two back-to-back games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka did take five wickets in the final game of the continental tournament. However, his figures in the Australian series left a lot to be desired. In the two games he played he returned 52/0 (4) and 39/1 (3) as the questions on his place in the XI have mounted when Arshdeep Singh returns to the XI.
However, skipper Rohit Sharma has thrown his weight behind the experienced pacer saying that he needs to be given space and it’s the time to show faith in him.
Speaking at the post-match press conference after India sealed the series 2-1, Rohit said, “It’s important that we give him (Bhuvi) that space because when you have a guy like him in the team and the quality that he brings, we know that he’s had more good days than bad days in the last so many years.
“We’ve been working on some plans, and hopefully, we can give him more options to bowl at the death. And then he’ll be as good as he was before. I don’t see that he is short on confidence. It’s time for us to show that faith in him and keep backing his skills,” he added.
Harshal too didn’t have a great outing in his first series in a couple of months conceding 99 runs in eight overs. Even though the 20th over of Australian innings in the third T20I was promising, the pacer will have to hit his straps sooner rather than later.
Rohit said that Harshal is an important player in India’s scheme of things as far as the World Cup is concerned so he can’t be judged on these three games and has to be given some time.
“Harshal is an important player for us without a doubt. Coming back after an injury is never easy. He missed cricket for close to two months. It’s not easy (to come back), so we’ve not judged him on how he is performing in these three games, because we know his quality.
“He has bowled some really tough overs for us in the past and also for his franchise. It’s important to keep showing that faith and I’m sure that you know he’s also trying to rectify those mistakes and he’s not too far from his best,” he added.
