IND vs AUS: Daniel Sams Would Be Upset If You Call Him Left-arm Spinner: Dinesh Karthik

The Indian cricket team won the 2nd Twenty20 International against Australia on Friday. While Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah took crucial wickets in the first innings, skipper Rohit Sharma led the team with a 20-ball 46 in the second innings.

Dinesh Karthik played a magnificent cameo of 10 runs off two balls and showed his hitting skills. Karthik came in to bat in the last over of the 8-over game and once again showed his class with 9 runs against Daniel Sams. The right-hander hit Sams for a six and a four to end the game with four balls to spare.

Much of the planning was taken from the Indian camp was perfectly executed. With Rishabh Pant, yet to bat, the team management decided to keep Dinesh Karthik in the middle, especially as Sams was to bowl in the last over of the innings. Karthik explained his strategy in the last over against Sams after the game.

Daniel Sams Would Be Upset If You Call Him Left-arm Spinner: Dinesh Karthik

Speaking to Star Sports after the match, Karthik said: “Never an easy game. There wasn’t too much chat with Rohit. I executed it on the given day. Sams would be upset if you call him left-arm spinner.”

“Rohit was trying to tell me this is what the bowler would do and I had my plans. As a middle order batter, it’s about execution and it feels good to hit the winning runs, “Karthik said of his conversation with Rohit Sharma during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Dinesh Karthik Better Option Against Daniel Sams Off Cutters – Rohit Sharma

Rohit mentioned that Karthik was sent ahead of Rishabh Pant as Sams was to bowl in the last over. Having played with Sams at Mumbai Indians, Rohit expected the Australian off-cutters to be bowled a lot, which Karthik could handle better than Pant.

“Glad DK could finish well. Been a while since he had some time in the middle. There was this thought if we should get Rishabh in but I thought Sams is going to bowl off-cutters, so I thought let DK come in and he is playing that role anyway for us,” he said.

India levelled the series at 1-1 with a win over Australia in the second T20I on Friday, and the series decider and final T20I will be played in Hyderabad.

Also read: IND vs AUS: Hardik Pandya Or Glenn Maxwell? – Ricky Ponting Gives His Verdict On The Big Debate