Shreyas Iyer Backs Ravi Bishnoi Despite Costly Over In England Loss: 'I Know Where...'

India’s T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer said that his bowlers lost momentum in the death overs and, although he refused to pinpoint any player, he clearly mentioned that Ravi Bishnoi’s costly over ended India’s hopes of winning the match.

England required 49 runs from the final 24 balls with four wickets in hand while chasing 191 when Bishnoi unravelled, bowling two consecutive no-balls that Jacob Bethell dispatched for sixes off the resulting free hits.

Bishnoi finished with figures of 4-0-60-0, playing the biggest role in India’s four-wicket defeat.

“I think we all know where it went, but I don’t want to pinpoint any particular player. The way we were cruising until the 15th, I think we were doing exceptionally well,” Iyer said at the post-match presentation.

“And then suddenly the momentum shifted towards them and from there on, I felt it was a cakewalk for them. I think one, I was like, okay, he is going to come back strong after that,” Iyer added.

The Indian captain admitted that the consecutive no-balls in the 17th over proved costly and said that they hurt the team, adding that the bowler would have to learn from the experience.

India were let down by their spin attack as well, as Bishnoi (0/60) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/37) couldn’t replicate the effectiveness of England’s spinners, who extracted greater control by bowling slower through the air and off the pitch.

Only Axar Patel held his own.

Iyer was all praise for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who made his debut as the youngest Indian international.

“I feel he has got that unflinching attitude where he is fearless and the way he approaches his game, it is just sensational to watch him. And the way he bats in the nets, I think there is something to learn from him, the way he plays his fearless cricket,” Iyer said.