Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan questioned Shubman Gill’s captaincy despite Gujarat Titans’ thrilling one-run win against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday. Pathan said Gill shouldn’t have given rookie pacer Ashok Sharma the final over of the Powerplay against DC openers – Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul, which went for 23 runs.
DC were 40-0 after five overs but Nissanka smashed Sharma for 18 runs in the sixth over of the innings in the run-chase of 211. Ashok eventually finished with 0-45 in three overs he bowled.
Rashid Khan conceded only four runs in the fifth over of the innings and Pathan said it was a good call to bowl the leg-spinner in the Powerplay overs.
Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Bowling Rashid in the powerplay was a good call. But they brought in Ashok for the last over. I felt that was a big mistake. KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka like pace. This guy gives pace, but the pitch was not suitable for that. If you give the last over of the powerplay to an inexperienced bowler on a black soil pitch, it is a mistake.”
The 2007 T20 World Cup final hero said Rashid Khan’s spell was a huge positive for GT as the Afghanistan spinner hasn’t been at his best in the recent past. Khan returned with figures of 3-17 in his four overs, accounting for Nitish Rana, Axar Patel and in-form Sameer Rizvi.
He concluded, “The biggest positive for Gujarat was Rashid Khan’s form. Rashid Khan’s leg spin turned a lot. He got a lot of spin in his first over. Now, when he gets so much turn on the leg spin, it makes the googly even more dangerous.”
Gujarat Titans will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on Sunday.
