IND vs SA: Would Request You To Look At Some Numbers On Matchups – Rahul Dravid When A Journalist Asked Why Axar Patel Bowled Only 1 Over In 3rd T20I

India National Cricket Team head coach Rahul Dravid gave a stern reply to a journalist and asked him to look at some numbers on matchups when the journalist questioned the use of left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s bowling in the dead rubber T20I match between India and South Africa at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Tuesday, October 4.

India National Cricket Team lost by 49 runs against South Africa National Cricket Team in the third T20I encounter. However, India took the trophy home by winning the series 2-1.

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Losing the toss and batting first, South Africa posted 227/3 on the board with the help of outstanding batting performances of left-hander Rilee Rossouw and left-handed batter Quinton de Kock.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was given only one over, in which he conceded 13 runs, in the match mainly due to the presence of explosive left-handed batters Rilee Rossouw and Quinton de Kock in the middle.

Notably, Axar’s numbers are not at all good against left-handed batters in T20 cricket as in the last five years he has conceded 8.4 runs per over again left-handed batters and only 6.5 runs per over again right-handed batters.

Match-ups are important – Rahul Dravid

At the post-match press conference, India head coach Rahul Dravid said that the matchups are very important and asked a journalist to check some numbers on the matchups before questioning why Axar was given only one over in the match.

“Match-ups are important, they are important to us. Whether they are more important or not, it’s for you guys to dig deep and look at what stats tell you about match-ups, about numbers of left-hand batsmen against left-arm spin. Maybe you might get some answers to that,” Rahul Dravid said, responding to the scribe who asked about India’s reliance on match-ups, after the loss on Tuesday.

“A lot of teams use match-ups, not only us. Like us, a lot of other teams look and delve into stats, into numbers. I think if you dwell on some of those numbers, you might get some answers. I would really request you to maybe look at some of those numbers, deeply, as deeply as we do,” he added.

Also Read: IND vs SA: ‘We Have To Improve, Execute Plans Better In Death Overs’- Rahul Dravid On India’s Bowling On Flat Wickets

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