'Death Bowling Not A Concern' - Ruturaj Gaikwad Backs Bowlers Despite 3rd T20I Loss

Team India opener Ruturaj Gaikwad opened up about the team’s loss in the third T20I of the ongoing five-match series against Australia. Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged that the dew made it extremely challenging for India’s bowlers while defending the target.

Australia secured a last-ball win by five wickets in the third T20I in Guwahati on Tuesday, November 28, keeping the series alive. Ruturaj Gaikwad played a stellar innings, scoring 123* off 57 balls, but Glenn Maxwell’s explosive 104* off 48 balls propelled Australia to the win.

We Have To Accept And Move On – Ruturaj Gaikwad

During the post-match press conference, when asked about concerns regarding India’s death-overs bowling, Ruturaj Gaikwad stated that bowling with a wet ball in such conditions is tough, and even a score of 12 or 13-14 runs per over becomes achievable.

“”I don’t think death bowling is a concern because it’s almost like you are bowling with a wet ball. It’s really tough on them. In these kind of situations or conditions, even 12 runs or 13-14 runs per over are gettable. In the first game, you saw easily we managed to chase 210. The conditions are slightly tougher for them [bowlers]. We have to accept and move on,” Gaikwad told reporters.

Australia needed 49 runs off the last three overs while chasing a 223-run target. However, India’s bowlers failed to stop Maxwell and Matthew Wade, who scored 28 runs off 16 balls. Maxwell smashed a boundary off Prasidh Krishna on the last ball to clinch victory.

The Wicket Got Slightly Better – Ruturaj Gaikwad

Gaikwad started cautiously amid early wickets but accelerated in the latter part of the innings. The young player mentioned that the pitch improved as the match progressed, stating that he initially felt it was a tacky surface to bat on.

“Initially, I felt, it [the pitch] was slightly tacky. The ball was stopping a little bit and there was some movement in the air and from the pitch as well. First two-three overs, I felt the wicket was like that and we lost two wickets in a span of one over. It was important that we stitch a partnership. After seven-eight overs, the wicket got slightly better,” Ruturaj further stated.

Also read: Watch: Ruturaj Gaikwad Destroys Glenn Maxwell As The Bowler Produces 30-Run Over