The dew-laden conditions were the primary reason for the poor performance of the Indian bowling attack in the third T20 International, where the home team failed to defend an imposing total of 222, according to vice captain and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Indian bowlers leaked 80 runs in the last 5 overs while defending 222 with Glenn Maxwell’s 47-ball hundred, including 23 runs off the final over from Prasidh Krishna, who was hit for four boundaries and a six.
For the record, Krishna’s 0/68 in 4 overs is the worst T20I figure by any Indian bowler.
“I don’t think it’s a concern because it’s almost like bowling with a wet ball. And it’s really tough on them,” Gaikwad told reporters during the post-match press conference. “In these kinds of conditions, 12 runs per over or even 13 or 14 runs per over is gettable, even while we are chasing. In the first game, we managed to chase 210 quite easily,” he cited as an example. “So I don’t think there’s definitely a concern at all. It’s just that the conditions are slightly tougher for them, and we have to accept and move on.”
Gaikwad said Maxwell’s brutal innings and heavy dew proved to be the home team’s undoing.
Making his 100th T20I appearance, Maxwell slammed an unbeaten 104 off just 48 balls as Australia amassed 45 runs in the last two overs to seal a last-ball thriller and make it 1-2 in the five-match series.
“I think even Maxi batted really well. To win from a situation where they needed 100 from seven and a half overs and then 50 from 3 overs, I think it was a critical innings for him,” Gaikwad said. “And I think from our side, our bowlers tried executing whatever they had in their control. Also, there was a lot of dew around, so the ball was slipping a lot. I think it was tough for the bowlers as well.
India will face Australia in the fourth T20I on Friday in Raipur.
