Harsha Bhogle Explained How Pandya, Jadeja and Karthik’s Combo Is Working Well For India: India registered an emphatic 68-run win over the West Indies in the first T20I of the 5-match series on Friday in Trinidad and took an early series lead.
After being inserted to bat first, the Men In Blue finished with than above-par total of 190, while West Indies could manage only 122 in their quota of 20 overs.
India’s 190 was made possible largely by the finish provided by the one and only Dinesh Karthik, who continued to excel in the role of a finisher by smashing 41* off only 19 deliveries, walloping 4 fours and 2 sixes in his innings.
Before DK’s fireworks, skipper Rohit Sharma returned to form with a responsible knock of 64 runs in 44 balls as he held one end while wickets fell at the other.
Harsha Bhogle makes a sharp observation about Pandya-Jadeja-Karthik
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle made a sharp observation about the services provided by the trio of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik – and how the three help each other to balance the Indian team so that they could perform to the best of their abilities.
Bhogle pointed out that since Hardik Pandya is now giving India overs regularly, this has allowed the management to play Ravindra Jadeja, who though a proper all-rounder still not a trustable four-over bowler in T20Is. But since Pandya is also back to his bowling fitness, India don’t need to play a proper bowler in place of Jadeja the all-rounder.
Further, about Dinesh Karthi, Bhogle insisted that Jadeja’s ability to bat at any batting position and in any phase of the game has allowed the management to keep Karthik exclusively for the death overs as he is best in the last phase of the game. For example, even today, Jadeja was sent in at number 6 in the 12th over while DK came in at his preferred time of the 15th over.
“The Hardik, DK, Jadeja combo is working well for India. The presence of Hardik allows India to play Jadeja and Jadeja’s ability to bat at any no allows DK to play his role perfectly,” Bhogle tweeted.
The Hardik, DK, Jadeja combo is working well for India. The presence of Hardik allows India to play Jadeja and Jadeja’s ability to bat at any no allows DK to play his role perfectly
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 29, 2022
This way, as Bhogle explained, Pandya, Jadeja and Karthik are helping out each other to produce their best and be utilized by the skipper.
After the game, Dinesh Karthik, who bagged the Man of the Match award, said: “It was sticky, not an easy wicket to bat on. It’s a very interesting role, you need the backing from the coach and the captain and that really helped. Important to assess the wicket and what kind of shots you need to play, and that comes with practice.
