Team India He took the momentum in the three-game T20I series and beat Aaron Finch and company 2-1 to lift the trophy.
Indian pacemaker of the left arm Khaleel ahmed, who was part of the India ODI and T20I teams for their Australia tour in 2018-19, feels India captain Virat Kohli should get a lot of credit for the change.
“The credit goes to our captain Virat Kohli. He knows how to get the team out of trouble,” Khaleel told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
“It was an incredible series. The Indian team seemed confident in the series. We lost the ODI series, but the victory in the third ODI gave the Indian team a lot of confidence. We got the momentum from there. The victory in the T20I series it will be a big boost before the test series. The victory will give (the team) a lot of confidence before the tests, “he said.
India’s victory in the second T20I in Sydney was their 10th trotting victory in the game’s shortest format. Although they couldn’t reach eleven on the trot and extend their own record, Khaleel feels the Ausies were outmatched.
“It was 10 versus 10 for me. India beat Australia in all departments in the T20I series. The way (India) came back (after losing the ODI series), it was amazing. That’s Team India for you.” He said a medium pace.
NATARAJAN – THE HERO IN DEBUT
Thangarasu Natarajan’s cricket trip with the left arm is a fairy tale so far.
The 29-year-old, tagged as a ‘Yorker specialist’, finished the T20 series as the top wide receiver overall, with 6 wickets in 3 matches.
“Natarajan played very well. He threw with a lot of control. He is one of the players who played an important role in the victory of India. He contributed so well. That’s why Pandya said he deserved the Man of the Series award. Natarajan and I have they played together at Sunrisers. He is a talented bowler. I am very happy for him, “said Khaleel, who has played 11 ODI and 14 T20I for India so far.
HARDIK PANDYA – THE GAME CHANGER
Hardik Pandya played a crucial role in India’s final T20 series victory. He was also the best Indian racer in the ODI series. He scored 210 runs in 3 games (3 innings) with an average of 105.00.
In the second T20I, India needed 25 runs from the final two overs and Pandya delivered in style, breaking two sixes in the final over to secure a six wicket win with two balls to spare and seal the series for the Men in Blue.
In fact, after the series win, Kohli also said: “You need that finalist and he (Pandya) is becoming that for us. He is hungry, he must keep improving.”
For a long time, the tag of the best finalist of the team was with MS Dhoni. Now, in the post-Dhoni era, Pandya, who currently plays like a pure hitter, because he’s not fully fit to bowl, seems to have made that label his own.
“For me, Hardik Pandya was the star of the series. He hit very well in the series. It’s a game changer. It’s very difficult to start hitting six from the beginning. It’s easy for Pandya. He can hit six. Anytime and anywhere. in any situation, “Khaleel told TimesofIndia.com.
“For years, Mahi bhai (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) has been doing these things. He is an idol for all of us. He was playing the auctioneer role for a long time. That job is not easy at all. But Pandya is playing that role now. He is the star actor for me in the series, “added Khaleel.
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