Former England spinner Graeme Swann has lauded captain Eoin Morgan for giving the new ball to Adil Rashid that in disguise brought Virat Kohli’s wicket. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled a terrific three-over spell on Monday in the first T20 international against India after England decided to field first. But Graeme Swann underlined that it is not why Rashid arrived at the attack.
Adil Rashid took the new ball and gave away only two runs in the first over against Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul. After Jofra Archer dismissed the latter for a single-figure score, Adil Rashid continued and gave England a massive breakthrough, removing the Indian captain Virat Kohli. The right-handed batsman wanted to clear the infield, hitting over mid-off. However, he mistimed it and holed to Chris Jordan.
Virat Kohli’s wicket significantly pegged the Indian team back as they were not able to dictate the terms as desired. England’s potent pace attack maintained the pressure on the home side’s mighty batting line-up to restrict them to 125 only. Following that, England chased the target in 15.3 overs with eight wickets to spare as Jason Roy top-scored with 49.
I think Adil Rashid was bowling in the powerplay for Shikhar Dhawan: Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann reckoned that Adil Rashid came into the attack for Shikhar Dhawan as he likes pace on the ball to play the slog sweep. Thus, Adil Rashid was on to keep the southpaw in check; however, it became a masterstroke, yielding Virat Kohli’s scalp. Swann further stated that the snorting short-pitched delivery from Jofra Archer was the ball that plotted the right-handed batsman’s dismissal.
“I think Adil Rashid was bowling in the powerplay for Shikhar Dhawan. England have an idea that Shikhar Dhawan likes to play that big slog sweep and he likes pace on the ball early on. So he (Rashid) was not actually on for Virat Kohli but as it turned out, it became a masterstroke. It wasn’t that delivery (from Rashid) that got him out. It was the balls before he faced from Archer, a snorting short ball,” Swann told Star Sports.
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