Team India is fighting fire with fire against Australia not only on the cricket field but also off it. After the 21-run loss in the series-opener in Chennai on Sunday (September 17), visiting captain Steve Smith had rued playing against two new balls while chasing a revised total of 164 off 21 overs on a pitch which was assisting the pacers early on.
However, India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who starred with the ball taking 3 for 30, hit back at Smith, saying that the tourists have said two new balls was a plus-point had they managed to chase down the total.
“It was never going to be easy chasing 160 with two new balls,” Smith said at the post-match press conference.
“It was sort of a good new-ball wicket to bowl with. We could have perhaps played things a little bit differently and tried to take a little bit more time upfront. It’s always hard in 20 overs to judge that. We weren’t good enough tonight,” he added.
Barring the phase when Glenn Maxwell hit Kuldeep Yadav for 22 runs in an over and played some big shots, Australia never looked in contention to chase down 164 as they lost wickets at regular intervals. They were eventually restricted for 137 for 9 in the allotted 21 overs.
Replying to Smith’s comments, Chahal said:
“The 21-over game was a plus-point for Australia because the rules were not according to T20.”
“The extra fielder was always inside the circle. If they had won the game, they would have said it (two new balls) was a plus-point for them. Because in T20s, if there is a new ball from both ends, then it is good for the batsmen. There was something in the wicket, so we too had an advantage,” he added.
The leg-spinner further credits his teammates for the proper show with the ball.
“So we’ve bowled well. Whether it is a new ball or an old ball, our bowlers bowled well. We got a good start with the way our pacers bowled. We managed to keep the pressure on them from the start and didn’t give them a chance to come into the game,” he said.