The back-to-back collapses Sri Lanka have had so far in this T20I series in Pallekele certainly underline that their batting group needs a lot of work to do, especially against strong opponents. However, in spite of the frailties of the current Sri Lankan side, the performances of spinners Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi has to be taken into account.
In both these T20Is, which India won to wrap up the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, both Axar and Bishnoi bowled spells during which they fetched crucial wickets to help India gain an edge before they could exert further pressure on the Sri Lankans.
In the series opener last Saturday, Axar’s arm ball dismissed a very well set Pathum Nissanka to break the latter’s partnership with Kusal Perera, which was threatening to take the game away from the Indians. In that same over, the left-arm spinner sent Perera back to shift the momentum in India’s favour. It was that over from Axar which triggered the Sri Lankan collapse.
The next day in the second T20I, Bishnoi, before his wickets off successive deliveries that castled both Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga in the 17th over to put Sri Lanka’s innings off track, had first trapped the in-form Nissanka lbw with a googly to give India the much-needed breakthrough. Axar, too, struck twice in the death overs in that game.
Obviously, against a stronger opposition, chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav is expected to be back in the XI most probably in leg-spinner Bishnoi’s place. But, considering how Axar and Bishnoi have fared so far on this tour, the Indian team management should be able to trust them as the spin duo, particularly if Kuldeep isn’t available for selection.
“Axar will always be in the fray since his ability with the bat is his advantage. As for Bishnoi, what gives him an edge in the T20 format is his action which is a tad unconventional while he also bowls at a good speed and focuses on the stump-to-stump line, much like Axar.
“Of course, Kuldeep is an automatic choice, but Bishnoi certainly adds to the options. And among those options, he has every chance of being the first pick, particularly in T20Is,” a BCCI official said on Monday.
Axar and Bishnoi have four wickets apiece with their economy rates reading 8.50 and 7.87, respectively. They will certainly have the scope to better their numbers unless either of them gets rested for the inconsequential final T20I on Tuesday.
India may draft in off-spinner all-rounder Washington Sundar in the XI on Tuesday, while it remains to be seen if vice-captain Shubman Gill has recovered from theneck spasm.
