India vs Hong Kong: KL Rahul’s lack of intent below the scanner, Jadeja’s contribution essential but once more

When KL Rahul blasted a free-hit ball over deep midwicket for a six, it was a bit large second for him: breaking freed from the self-imposed shackles. But the spotlight was what adopted. A fan on the stands nonchalantly cupped his palms the Aussie technique to pouch the ball and … didn’t throw the ball into area of play. Instead, he whipped out his cellphone, took a selfie with the ball prominently within the body, earlier than urged by the folks round him, he lastly relented to get the ball again in play.

If he will get an enormous one, Rahul may keep in mind that six as a particular turn-around second however greater than him, it’s that fan who has a ‘I was there’ second safely saved in his cellphone gallery. (Sriram Veera)

Wide ball of the century!

Had Steve Harmison been watching the sport between India and Hong Kong he would have been haunted once more by the wide-ball of the century he bowled within the 2006-07 Ashes opener in Brisbane. So broad that the ball eluded the keeper, the primary slip and crash-landed on the second slip.

Or he may need felt a trifle relieved, and even had a chuckle, or might have even empathised with the bowler. For Hong Kong seamerHaroon Rashid produced a ball so broad that it landed on the observe pitch beside the centre pitch. It was an tried slower ball—off a free hit as he had over-stepped when deliveringthe earlier ball—that slipped out of his hand, floated and drifted outward and made a gradual touchdown like a drunk bee.

As the ball landed exterior the pitch, it was deemed a no-ball. Haroon smiled sheepishly, because the teammates converged to commiserate him. (Sandip G)

That’s that from our second match on the #AsiaCup2022. #TeamIndia win by 40 runs.

Scorecard – https://t.co/k9H9a0e758 #INDvHK #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/fIPq7vPjdz

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 31, 2022

Haroon’s nightmarish over

Before the sport in opposition to India, Hong Kong pacer Haroon Ahmed was used to taking part in the Little League. Oman, Nepal, Jersey had been the sort of groups he had confronted. One sport in opposition to Ireland couldn’t have given him the expertise to take care of the most effective of white-ball batters, the icon of the world’s largest T20 league – KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.

After his first over, the place he conceded 5 runs, he wouldn’t be faulted to fancy himself a pacer of worldwide high quality. And then got here the nightmarish 8-ball over the place he conceded 22. Rohit and Rahul hit a six every but it surely was a “widest of wide” ball – the primary bounce of which was the place second slip might have been – that stood out.

For the 2 Indian openers it was simply one other sport, Haroon would need to overlook this outing fairly quickly however there have been a few followers who will cherish the reminiscence of this sport endlessly. As a Rahul six sailed within the stands, the ball landed into the palms of two youngmen. While the Hong Kong gamers waited for the ball to return, they took selifes with the ball. (Sandeep Dwivedi)

Rahul ought to have hit one other six: Gambhir

It’s the ninth over and India’s run charge hasn’t picked up. On the third ball KL Rahul makes a candy connection, it’s a sleek easy strike to the cow’s nook. Fans are celebrating the uncommon six. Finally, Rahul appeared to have judged the tempo of the pitch and the frustratingly gradual Hong Kong bowlers proper.

The subsequent ball too is pitched on the road and size, Rahul knocks the ball and jogs throughout the pitch. The pundits watching the sport aren’t impressed. Leading the cost is Gautam Gambhir, sitting East Delhi MP who is also Lucknow SuperGiants mentor, the IPL franchise that Rahul leads.

Is there one thing within the pitch that’s not seen. Simply can’t fathom this strategy particularly from KL Rahul. #IndvsHkg

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) August 31, 2022

Gambhir says Rahul ought to have tried to clear the boundary once more as he was nicely set. He mentions how modern-day batters like Liam Livingstone would have gone for a second six and never present the strike to their batting companions. He says that the times of openers batting deep until the 15 overs had been behind us. In this T20 format, you’re within the enterprise now. How true it proved to be, Rahul made 36 from 39 balls and was out on the finish of 13 overs. He ought to have gone for the second successive six. Rahul ought to know Big Brother is watching. (Sandeep Dwivedi)

Rahul’s crawl

Even by KL Rahul’s requirements, it was a crawl. The opener had just one attacking shot – a six off a free-hit – within the Powerplay, in opposition to Hong Kong. Rahul has returned to the Team India fold after an injury-forced layoff. In the primary match on the Asia Cup, in opposition to Pakistan, he received out for a duck.

He is allowed a bedding-in interval. All stated and performed, although, such lack of intent, in opposition to an Associate nation, defied logic. Rohit Sharma went on the assault mode from the outset and scored at a 160-plus strike charge earlier than he perished within the fifth over.

India’s KL Rahul is bowled out by Pakistan’s Naseem Shah throughout the T20 cricket match of Asia Cup between India and Pakistan, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Rahul took his time and laboured to 16 off 20 balls after six overs. India’s Powerplay rating was a modest 44/1, which could not matter in a sport in opposition to Hong Kong, however in opposition to more durable opponents, such gradual burn may very well be counter-productive. Rahul finally fell for 36 off 39 deliveries. He has document in T20Is – 1,831 runs from 57 video games earlier than this fixture. More usually than not, nevertheless, he scores his personal runs on this format. (Shamik Chakrabarty)

Ehsan Khan or Hong Kong ka John Traicos

An growing old, correct and disciplined off-spinner with the ability to bowl yorkers at will. He additionally has sharp options and a wily thoughts. Hong Kong’s 37-year-old spinner Ehsan Khan has so many attributes that reminds considered one of Zimbabwe nice John Traicos, the legend of the 80s. Remember the frail and stingy off-spinner with the guile to recurrently give you ’10 overs 20 plus runs’ spells in opposition to the most effective groups on the earth. Ehsan is a throwback on the subject of ways.

He doesn’t give the batter area to swing their arms and foxes the batsmen within the air. In his spell he tied the Indians in knots. In his third over, the seventeenth of the innings, he gave away simply 4 runs. And that too when Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav had been on the crease. Most of his balls within the over had been darted on the shoelaces. And when Surya was anticipating a yorker, Khan threw it broad and full manner exterior off however stayed inside limits.

In his closing over, the nineteenth of the innings, India’s IPL stars managed only one six. His closing ball of the spell was a dot ball to Kohli. That and his figures of 4-0-26-0 in opposition to India can be one thing that Khan’s grand children must hear endlessly. (Sandeep Dwivedi)

Can’t preserve Jadeja out of motion

Trust Ravindra Jadeja to show an hostile state of affairs his crew’s manner, be it with bat, ball or within the area. After taking part in an important position with the bat within the win over Pakistan, the all-rounder gave one other instance of his exemplary qualities within the different two departments of the sport.

First with a bull’s eye throw 🎯 after which picks a wicket 👌
Terrific work from @imjadeja as Hong Kong are 91/3 in 13 overs 👍

Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/h2xg7etUcH pic.twitter.com/8lW4eGxwl2

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 31, 2022

He affected a run-out on a free hit from Arshdeep Singh – when no different mode of dismissal was potential. He nailed a direct hit from level to seek out Nizakat Khan quick when he had taken a few steps down the pitch earlier than aborting the run. Hong Kong had made a good begin to the chase and though it could be an exaggeration to say the Indians would have been anxious at that stage, the underdogs had been nicely within the sport when Jadeja intervened.

He then chipped in with 4 usually thrifty overs, returning figures of 1-15 to make sure the end result. All in a day’s work for one of many premier all-format all-rounders in up to date cricket. (Tushar Bhaduri)