Hardik Pandya: Team India is having a lot of trouble with Arshdeep Singh’s no-ball issues. In close situations, especially T20Is when there is little room for error, the left-arm pacers’ persistent no-ball strikes are seriously hurting India. Arshdeep once more became the culprit on Friday at the Ranchi JSCA International Stadium when he bowled a massive 27-run over. As he bowled the last over of the New Zealand innings, Arshdeep allowed the opposition to score 176/6 thanks to a no-ball, three sixes, and a four. As India finished 21 runs short of the mark, this may have been the pivotal over.
Arshdeep Singh’s horrifying last over
With 1/51, Arshdeep had a nightmare ending to his spell. Arshdeep has often performed well while serving as India’s preferred death bowler after Jasprit Bumrah, but last night was not one of those times. He overstepped to start the over, resulting in a no-ball that went for a six. After taking on Arshdeep, Daryl Mitchell hit the following two balls over the ropes, suggesting that New Zealand had hit a hat-trick of sixes. This was done after a boundary off the actual third ball of the over. Mitchell’s emotional attack on Arshdeep and Hardik Pandya was evident in the various expressions the India captain wore throughout the over.
Hardik approached Arshdeep after the third ball and engaged in a spirited discussion with the bowler. The bowler’s final over included a dot ball and a few doubles, showing the effectiveness of the strategy. Although India may have held New Zealand under 160, the damage had already been done, and the BlackCaps ended up with a respectable score.
A recent statistic that Arshdeep has bowled the most no-balls of any bowler with the fewest matches played went viral. Arshdeep had earlier this month, during the second T20I match against Sri Lanka, given up a hat-trick of no-balls. Arshdeep appeared terribly out of touch and out of match practise after missing the first game of the series due to illness. He appeared to have completely lost his line, length, and rhythm.
Watch Hardik Pandya reaction here
After a top-order collapse limited India to 155/9, Washington Sundar, an all-rounder, spearheaded the hosts’ comeback with a 28-ball fifty but ultimately couldn’t lead the team beyond the finish line. Following a 0-3 clean sweep loss in the ODIs, this was New Zealand’s first victory of the current tour.
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