Published 14:51 IST, January 8th 2020
IND vs SL: Navdeep Saini thwarts Scott Styris' dig at India playing 4 RCB bowlers in T20I
In the second IND vs SL T20I, Indian pacer Navdeep Saini delivered a match-winning performance to help Team India get a grip on the match. Read further.
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Team India's bowling line-up handed the team an easy victory in the Indore T20I on Tuesday and helped the hosts take a 1-0 lead over the visitors Sri Lanka in the 3-match T20I series. The Player of the Match was Navdeep Saini, who also happens to play under Virat Kohli at the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Saini took 2 wickets for 18 runs at a very effective economy of 4.50.
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Scott Styris doubts Virat Kohli's selection strategy
Before the match started, former Kiwi all-rounder Scott Styris took to Twitter and questioned why the Indian team's line-up featured four RCB bowlers. RCB have had a very tough time at the IPL since they made the final in 2016. The team consistently finishes at the bottom of the IPL table and has been one of the earliest exits in the past two seasons. One of the biggest reasons behind RCB's IPL woes has been their bowlers who have failed to contain the opposition batsmen. Yesterday's India playing XI featured three RCB bowlers in the playing XI - Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini. RCB spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was also present in the Team India squad although he did not play the match.
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Navdeep Saini responds in style
While it is very improbable that Navdeep Saini or any of the others got to know about Scott Styris' tweet while they were on the ground, the young bowlers proved the Kiwi wrong and single-handedly helped India get a grip on the game in the first innings itself. Navdeep Saini was the leader of the pack as he took two wickets with a very impressive economy of 4.50. Spinner Washington Sundar also got the important wicket of opening batsman Avishka Fernando. Shivam Dube was not a part of the match's action much as he was not used a bowler and the team did not need to bat deep enough for Dube to come out to bat. Indian fans were quick to point these facts out to Styris.
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14:51 IST, January 8th 2020