IND vs SA live: In a worrying sign for Team India, designated finishers Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik all failed to get going as the Men in Blue slumped to a rather under- par total in a must win game on Tuesday. After the openers set up a good platform, the India middle order failed to deliver, scoring below 8 runs an over in the death in a huge concern for India ahead of the T20 World Cup. Follow India vs South Africa live updates on Insidesport.IN
IND vs SA LIVE: India’s DEATH-OVERS concerns grow as big-hitters Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya fail to fire: Check OUT
Put into bat once again this series, India got off to a superb start, with openers Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad both scoring quick-fire half-centuries. India had romped to 128/2 in 13 overs, with the stage set for Rishabh Pant and Co to take the hosts past the 200-run mark.
However, some good bowling from South Africa and some lacklustre performances from the Indian finishers meant that India could only muster 51 runs in their last seven overs, at a rate just over 7. Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik both managed six runs each of eight deliveries, while Hardik Pandya also took his time to get his willow going.
Hardik had stuttered to 14 at just better than a run a ball, but a couple of boundaries at the end meant that he finished with a rather respectable 31 off 21 balls.
India’s death over blues:
- 16th over: 6 runs, no boundaries, Rishabh Pant dismissed.
- 17th over: 4 runs, no boundaries, Hardik and Karthik at the crease.
- 18th over: 8 runs, Hardik finds a solitary boundary.
- 19th over: 11 runs, Hardik and Axar Patel hit a boundary each, Dinesh Karthik dismissed.
- 20th over: 12 runs, Hardik hits a couple of boundaries.
- Last five overs: 41 runs, 2 wickets
IND vs SA LIVE: India’s DEATH-OVERS concerns grow as big-hitters Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya fail to fire: Check OUT
Neither of the trio managed to hit a single six, in what is a pressing concern for the Indian team as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. With the game reaching new heights each passing day, India need players who could strike the ball to the boundary from the get go.
While Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant have done it in the past and Dinesh Karthik has done it for RCB in the IPL, the Men in Blue will hope that they can replicate those at the international arena when it matters the most.
IND vs SA LIVE: India’s DEATH-OVERS concerns grow as big-hitters Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya fail to fire: Check OUT
