“Great call from the skipper to go with the spinner” – Rahul Dravid praises Rohit Sharma’s tactics in 2nd Super Over against Afghanistan

India’s head coach Rahul Dravid showered praise on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy after the veteran backed Ravi Bishnoi in the second Super Over against Afghanistan in the third T20I at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday, which the hosts won to take the series 3-0.

Bishnoi was able to defend 11 runs in the second Super Over as he dismissed Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The left-spinner dismissed Mohammad Nabi on the first ball he bowled and then also accounted for Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the third ball of the over.

Earlier in the match, Bishnoi conceded 38 runs in his quota of four overs but went wicketless.

Meanwhile, India scored 11 runs in the second Super Over after Rohit Sharma smashed a four and a six on the first two balls. But Rinku Singh was caught behind whereas Rohit Sharma was run out on the fourth and fifth ball respectively.

Rahul Dravid said in the post-match press conference, “I think Rohit went with his gut, he went with a call… I think he felt that the spinner had a better chance to take those two wickets. It was one of games when 11 wasn’t probably a huge score and where you know that if they batted those six balls, with the power they had, they probably would’ve got the 12 runs. You needed to take two wickets. I think it was a great call from the skipper to go with the spinner.”

On the other hand, former Indian number three feels Ravi Bishnoi was brilliant in the second Super Over. Dravid hailed Bishnoi for pulling back his length.

“He could’ve gone for two sixes but I thought Bishnoi was brilliant, because he bowled two superb balls. He pulled the length back… if the length had gone slightly fuller, the way they were batting, on this small ground it would’ve gone for a six. I think it was really good gut call from Rohit to go for the wickets and be more positive rather than probably a safer option which people would’ve expected,” said Dravid.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Kumar bowled the first Super Over and the fast bowler conceded 17 runs. The first Super Over was tied after Rohit Sharma smashed two sixes.

India will now take on England in a five-match Test series.