00:06So India's record across formats in Indore remains absolutely perfect.
00:11As I mentioned, it was the bowlers who set it up.
00:14Very impressive from the Deepa Saini as well for India to beat Sri Lanka in the second T20 in Indore
00:20by 7 wickets.
00:21Gives us plenty to talk about here on Matchpoint.
00:24Thank you so much for joining us here on Matchpoint with VVS Lakshman and Gopin Gumbil.
00:28Amongst the many talking points for Team India in this victory, we'll begin the one that had the fans the
00:33most excited and that was the return of Boom Boom Boom Ra.
00:36Which means Lakshman, every time he stepped onto the field, he came in running in, you were going to watch
00:41each and every delivery.
00:42Yeah and I was really impressed because we all know that he didn't play international cricket for some time because
00:47of stress factor.
00:49He didn't play any first class match leading up to this series but I didn't see him being rusty.
00:53The way he ran towards the wicket, the pace was there, the variations were executed well, he was bowling the
00:59bouncer well, the way he landed the ball in the right length.
01:03It was great to see him back and I was very impressed that Virat Kohli gave him the first over
01:08because even when he's fully fit, you see Virat Kohli giving probably the third over, fourth over.
01:12But I think when Boom Ra is back in top form, you expect him to be the go-to bowler
01:16for Virat Kohli.
01:17A series like this, you're going to have some young bowlers tested. Navdeep Saini, his fastest was over 150.
01:23Very, very impressed. Very impressive as well. I think someone who can bowl 150 plus will always be a big
01:29asset for the team and any team he plays for.
01:32So the only thing is he's only going to get better playing alongside someone like Jaspreet Boom Ra because he
01:37will learn a lot when to use those variations,
01:39when to use that short ball, that yorker, probably that hard length as well.
01:43So it's going to be a huge plus for Indian team if Navdeep Saini starts bowling the way he bowled
01:48today and probably if he plays more alongside Jaspreet Boom Ra.
01:51If he gets those opportunities as well, remember Mission 2020 is something we've been talking about.
01:55Of course, the second opener, that's a debate that has been waging.
01:59So it's intriguing with Sheikha Dhawan and Kaya Rahul opening the innings together because once again in the power play,
02:04you saw very, very distinct approaches from both.
02:07You had someone like Kaya Rahul's who's strike rate was well above 170.
02:10In that power play, Sheikha Dhawan was about 100 but tried to kind of stay on.
02:15Yeah, you can expect that because Sheikha Dhawan has been out because of an injury.
02:20Even though he got 100 for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, you could see him being rusty which we didn't
02:24see with Boom Ra as a bowler.
02:26But again, the way Kaya Rahul is batting, when you're in top form, you want to maximize the opportunity of
02:32scoring runs.
02:33He'll be disappointed that he was not able to finish off the match trying to remain unbeaten.
02:38But I just feel that Sheikha Dhawan requires to find that rhythm back because I think the opportunities are going
02:44to be very less.
02:45Once Rohit Sharma comes back, I feel the preferred second opener would be Kaya Rahul.
02:51So I think the time maybe is running out for Sheikha Dhawan in T20 format.
02:55It's a player we understand very well, Sheikha Dhawan.
02:57You know what you're going to get.
02:58You know he's a man for big tournaments.
02:59The kind of pressure he must be under now.
03:01In one-day cricket, not in T20 cricket.
03:03He hasn't done a lot in T20 cricket.
03:05If you see the entire stats, I'm not a big believer in numbers and stats.
03:08But then he hasn't had that impact.
03:10The kind of impact people like Rohit Sharma and Kail Rahul has had on T20 format.
03:14So probably I think India needs to look beyond Sheikha Dhawan.
03:18I think India really needs to look beyond Sheikha Dhawan.
03:21Probably he's 34 and age is just the number.
03:24But again, the impact.
03:25Purely from the impact point of view, I don't think so he's done enough.
03:27If you're looking at the top order and you want to have a little bit of impact,
03:30one player who can maybe give you at that top because you were sent in earlier today
03:33and we've seen him in the middle order, Shreyasaya.
03:35I mean, first and foremost, that's six.
03:36That shot was something else.
03:38Yeah, I mean, I was not surprised while Shreyasaya himself was surprised with that shot
03:42and so was Virat Kohli because he's a fantastic player of spin bowling.
03:46You know, the way he times the cricketing shot.
03:49And all these players are strong now.
03:50They do a lot of power training and that generates the power and the force into their shot.
03:55You know, but it was not brutal power, but it was pure timing.
03:58And he hit with the straight bat down the ground.
04:01You know, and it was great to see Virat Kohli promoting him at number three
04:04because all these opportunities and once you score runs at international level
04:08for inexperience or a newcomer into the team,
04:13I think the confidence level will just go up.
04:15You know, and that's something with Virat Kohli and the team management one
04:18because over the years, they've depended heavily on the top three.
04:21You want your number four, number five to score runs.
04:23And only way you can gain confidence when giving them the opportunity.
04:26He batted really well.
04:27All right, now all eyes will be on the third T20i in Pune.
04:30That's going to be played out on the 10th.
04:32If you're the men in blue, you've just won by seven wickets.
04:35Gentlemen, Lakshman, do you want to see something different?
04:37Do you want to see something different in terms of roles maybe?
04:40No, not necessarily.
04:41I thought the bowlers, especially the newcomers, the inexperienced bowlers,
04:46Shardul and Nabdeep Saini have been excellent.
04:48Even Washington Sundar was really good.
04:49And Shreya Saini also batted well.
04:52I just want to see Shikhar Dhawan score some runs, you know, find the rhythm.
04:55Yeah, he spent some time on the wicket.
04:56I'm sure that confidence will take it to the next game.
04:59But from Sri Lankan's point of view, I think they lack that experience in the middle order.
05:02So someone like Angelo Matthews, who is there in the squad,
05:05I see him play in Pune, probably batted number four.
05:07Kothi, what about you?
05:08Same, I think Sri Lanka needs to get Angelo Matthews back.
05:12And Shikhar Dhawan, I hope he gets France because obviously he's there in the one day squad as well.
05:16And there's an important series coming up after this.
05:18So if he can get France in the next game, he goes into that series with a lot of confidence.
05:22And probably because he's opened here, he might be opening against Australia as well.
05:25I know that KL Raul is an unbelievable form.
05:28But then obviously if you pick Shikhar Dhawan in the one day team as well,
05:31you will start with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
05:33So I want him to score runs in the next one.
05:35And then probably go in with a lot of confidence against people like Mitchell Stark and Pat Cummings.
05:39Alright, plenty to look forward to.
05:41And we do head to Pune, gentlemen.
05:42Thank you so much for your insight.
05:44We look forward to seeing you next time on Match Point.
05:46Bye for now.
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