Team India has been on the pinnacle of performance and bringing out back to back Super Over wins in the last two T20 matches against New Zealand. In a bizarre reiteration of New Zealand ending their chase in equal runs with India, thanks to tremendous dead over performance from Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur. Add to that the swashbuckling knocks from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in the super overs, India is on an unbeatable run in the series, currently leading 4-0. Experience gained? Captain Virat Kohli speaks.
Yesterday in the post match interview, Virat Kohli shared the biggest lesson he gathered from the nail biting victories in the last two matches.
“There’s something new I’ve learnt in the last couple of games: when the opposition is playing well, you stay calm till the end and try to come back,” Kohli told reporters.
These were the first super over experience for Kohli and the squad, and they still were able to clinch out two victories out of two highly tensed matches.
“We couldn’t have asked for more exciting games, we’ve never played Super Overs before and now we’ve won two. It shows the character of the team,” he added.
Usually coming in 1 down in the batting order, Kohli headed to the 22 yards in yesterday’s super over at the Wellington Regional Stadium, replacing opener Sanju Samson, who was brought in place of Rohit Sharma in the first innings.
The 31 year old also credited Rahul’s stormy super over strikes of one boundary an one over boundary, before losing his wicket against Tim Southee: “His (Rahul’s) two strikes were crucial and then you knock the ball into the gap and take your team over the line.”
The skipper also praised the Men in Blue’s young pacers: “We have a young bowling attack and, it is tough, when you haven’t won and you play against a quality opposition in India, give them a sniff and make it tough for yourselves.”
The Man of the Match Shardul Thakur picked up two wickets, while also contributing to India’s score with a quick 15-ball-20 in the late overs. Yuzvendra Chahal secured one wicket, and the superstar Jasprit Bumrah picked one in Kiwi’s chase and one in the super over.
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