Kolkata: India’s White-Ball skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday reckoned that young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi’s numerous variations and skills and his ability to bowl at any stage is really special and that is why he was chosen in the playing XI against West Indies in the first T20I.
The young leg-spinner made his dream T20 International debut in the first match of the three-match T20I series between India and West Indies on Wednesday, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Bishnoi received his debut cap from senior leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
“Bishnoi is a very talented guy which is why we drafted him into the squad straightway. We see something different in him. He’s got a lot of variations and skill-sets with him. He can bowl at any stage and it gives us a lot of options to rotate the other bowlers,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.
Roston Chase ☝️
Rovman Powell ☝️Ravi Bishnoi picks up his maiden international wicket and then adds another in the same over 👏#INDvWI | 📝: https://t.co/3ipGZj7Ty1 pic.twitter.com/NxgXygIwvi
— ICC (@ICC) February 16, 2022
The 21-year-old leg-spinner delivered an outstanding performance in his international debut. In his 4 over, Ravi Bishnoi gave away just 17 runs and dismissed two West Indies batters. He picked both his wickets in the same over. He dismissed Roston Chase and Rovman Powell and adjudged the Man of the Match award. He has also become the 8th Indian player to win the ‘Man of the Match’ award on his T20I debut.
“Very happy with his first game for India and he’s got a bright future and it’s just about us now on how we use him. We were very clear with Shreyas and we told him we want that option going into the World Cup. Guys do understand what the team wants and all these guys are professionals and they do understand that team comes first,” he added.
Rohit also tried to reach out to Shreyas Iyer, who unfortunately wasn’t a part of the playing XI despite being in good form. “Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him not making it to playing XI, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn’t get him in,” the skipper said.
“It’s always nice with that kind of competition going around and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I’m happy to have that kind of challenge rather than not having players available and not in form. We were very clear with Shreyas and we told him we want that option going into the World Cup. Guys do understand what the team wants and all these guys are professionals and they do understand that team comes first.” Rohit concluded.
