Hardik Pandya delivered the 18th over, and Shivam Dube bowled the last 6 balls of the India vs Zimbabwe match. Yet, minutes after winning the game, both pace-bowling all-rounders were once again back to their mark and throwing down deliveries at the other end. India’s assistant/fast bowling coach, Morne Morkel, was guiding them.
Pandya & Dube continue bowling after IND vs ZIM match
Pandya, who had scored an unbeaten 50 from 23 balls, bowled a 3-over spell for just 21 runs. Two of these overs came in the powerplay, the 2nd and 4th. He earned the player of the match (POTM) award for his performance. And just moments after receiving it from Robin Uthappa, he went back to the practice pitches and delivered the one over he hadn’t bowled.
“Pretty good (talking about his bowling). I think I like bowling with a new ball. It swings. I mean, God has been kind. I have the skill set of bowling in-swing and out-swing, both. So, I really enjoy it. I think it gives me the opportunity to take wickets as well. It challenges the batter as well. So yeah, pretty satisfied. I still have to bowl my one (remaining) over, which I’m going to go after this (conversation),” Pandya said after winning the POTM award.
Pandya’s comment made it clear that it’s part of his and other bowlers’ workload management to complete their quota of 4 overs, if not in the match, then after it. Dube, who had gone for plenty (46/1) in his 2 overs, bowled the remaining 12 balls. He was in constant conversation with Pandya and Morkel.
India’s bowling wasn’t that great. Suryakumar Yadav didn’t bowl out Jasprit Bumrah, giving an extra over to Dube. But still, allowing Zimbabwe to score 184 wasn’t something the India captain was pleased with. “To be very honest, we could have been a little more clinical with the ball,” Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation.
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