“Unlocking the Mystery: Bishnoi’s Super Over Call Whose Last-Minute Brilliance and Why?
In the high-stakes encounter against Afghanistan, both Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan were prepared to bowl the second Super Over, but a last-minute decision saw the leg-spinner take the charge. When India managed only 11 runs in their second Super Over, there was surprise at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite both teams scoring 16 runs each in the first Super Over, this seemingly modest target became a challenging pursuit.
During the brief changeover, Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan were seen warming up, with Avesh initially set to bowl. However, a sudden change occurred when India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, stepped onto the field. Despite Avesh initially preparing to bowl, Rohit’s entrance prompted a switch. Avesh handed his cap back to the umpire, and Bishnoi took his place.
Bishnoi delivered an excellent first ball, exploiting the larger leg-side boundary. Mohammad Nabi attempted a powerful shot, but the extra bounce limited his control, leading to a catch by Rinku Singh. Karim Janat faced the next delivery, and Bishnoi adapted his length, allowing only a single. With the equation now at 10 runs off 4 balls, Bishnoi anticipated Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s intent for a big shot. Despite a wider delivery, Gurbaz’s flat-batted swat found Rinku Singh again, securing India’s victory.
Post-match, Bishnoi revealed that both he and Avesh were initially prepared, but a last-minute decision favored him, considering the presence of two right-handed batters. Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, praised Rohit’s instinctive decision to entrust Bishnoi. Dravid acknowledged the spinner’s brilliance in executing three crucial deliveries and commended Rohit’s proactive and aggressive approach in opting for wickets over a safer choice. The strategic move paid off as India emerged victorious after two sets of Super Overs in a thrilling encounter against Afghanistan.