Dinesh Karthik has explained why Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh failed to make an impact in his comeback match at MCA stadium in Pune. Sri Lanka outclassed team India by 16 runs to level the T20I series 1-1 on Thursday.
The wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has come out in support of Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh after Sri Lanka beat India. In his comeback match, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh had a nightmare outing against Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Arshdeep Singh bowled back-to-back three no-balls in his first over that completely shifted the momentum towards the Sri Lankan team after a good first over from captain Hardik Pandya. The Indian pacer ended up bowling five no-balls to enter his name in the history books for most number of no balls in a T20I game. The pacer became the first Indian bowler to bowl three no-balls on the trot in his first over of a T20I match. After giving Sri Lanka the massive start in the powerplay, pacer Arshdeep bowled two more no-balls to secure another record.
Arshdeep Singh has now bowled the most number of no-balls by an Indian bowler in the shortest format. With Arshdeep facing growing anger from the fans over his bowling against Sri Lanka, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik extended his support to the under-fire fast bowler. Taking to Twitter during the 2nd T20I between India and Sri Lanka, Karthik explained why Arshdeep failed to make an impact in his comeback match at Pune. “You’ve got to feel for Arshdeep Singh, just lack of match practice. It’s never easy,” Karthik said in his tweet.
Arshdeep didn’t complete his full quota of overs in the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka. The Indian pacer bowled only two overs and leaked 37 runs. Arshdeep’s teammate Umran Malik (3) shared five wickets with Axar Patel (2) as Sri Lanka posted a match-winning total. Captain, Dasun Shanaka’s quick-fire 56 off 22 balls, Sri Lanka posted 206-6 in 20 overs. Despite brillant efforts from Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav, the Shanaka-inspired Sri Lanka outclassed India by 16 runs to level the series 1-1. Shanaka was named the Player of the Match.