Vijay Shankar credits Bumrah for final over heroics against Australia in second ODI

Sudhir Gupta 09:24 06/03/2019
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • An excellent final over by Shankar in the first ODI.

    The limelight was firmly thrust upon Vijay Shankar in the second ODI between India and Australia at Nagpur and the all-rounder grabbed his opportunity with both hands with an excellent final over under pressure.

    Shankar was given the responsibility of bowling the final over with 10 runs to defend in Australia’s chase of 251 and the 28-year-old answered the call in some style by picking up the wickets of Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa.

    Having been taken for 13 runs in his only previous over in the match, the pressure on Shankar was intense but the all-rounder later revealed that he had been waiting for the opportunity for some time.

    “To be honest, I was literally waiting for the opportunity,” Shankar told Star Sports after India’s eight-run win.

    “After the 43 over I was telling myself I’m going to bowl the last over and I am going to defend it.”

    Skipper Virat Kohli had the option of throwing the ball to Kedar Jadhav who had picked up 1-33 in his eight overs but chose to go with Shankar in the crux situation. The Tamil Nadu man revealed that some excellent advice from senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah had been key to his final over heroics.

    Shankar had earlier scored 46 runs with the bat in the match.

    Shankar had earlier scored 46 runs with the bat in the match.

    “I was just clear about what I had to do and those things helped me when I came on to bowl. I didn’t have any pressure to be honest. I knew to defend 10 runs is going to be a big challenge but if I got those two wickets it would be great,” said Shankar.

    “And then (Jasprit) Bumrah came and told me that it is reversing a bit, just trust yourself to bowl the hard lengths. I think when a top bowler like him, when he comes and tells me that the hard lengths are very difficult to hit on this wicket (you go with that plan).

    “And the bounce was also not that great on this wicket, it was a little low than the normal wicket. To hit the right length was a challenge for me at that situation under pressure but the good thing is I was clear mentally.”

    Having stood tall when called upon at Nagpur, Shankar will hope for some more notable displays in the coming clashes as he looks to seal a place in India’s squad for the ICC World Cup.

    India currently lead the five-match series 2-0 and will next take on Australia in the third ODI at Ranchi on Friday.

    Recommended