Team India’s young pacer Arshdeep Singh had a terrible outing in the second T20I against Sri Lanka as he went on to bowl five no-balls in just two overs of his spell.
India’s senior wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik showed some support to the young pacer as he explained the reason behind those no-balls.
Got to feel for Arshdeep Singh writes Dinesh Karthik
Team India’s skipper Hardik Pandya started off with an excellent first over in the second T20I against Sri Lanka as the Pune pitch had some zip for the pacers. However, Arshdeep Singh, who came in to bowl the second over, bowled back-to-back three no-balls which let the Sri Lankan batters go all guns blazing.
The spin duo of Axar and Chahal pulled back the game towards the Men in Blue as the power play overs were done and dusted. Arshdeep was again handed over the ball in the 19th, and the Punjab pacer went on to bowl two more no balls, which allowed Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka to hit a swashbuckling fifty off just 20 deliveries.
Arshdeep became the first Indian bowler to bowl three no-balls on the trot and bowled the most number of no-balls by an Indian bowler in the shortest format giving away 37 runs in just two overs. Team India’s wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik came in support of Arshdeep after he had a terrible game in Pune. “You’ve got to feel for Arshdeep Singh, just lack of match practice. It’s never easy,” Karthik tweeted just after the second T20I.
You've got to feel for Arshdeep Singh , just lack of match practice .
— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 5, 2023
It's never easy #INDvsSL
Team India looked in some control during the middle overs as they wrapped the Sri Lankan middle order batters in quick succession but Shanaka’s stellar knock allowed Sri Lanka to post a mammoth total of 206-6.
Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel put on a strong partnership for the fifth wicket as the latter scored a 31-ball 65 with six huge sixes. Shivam Mavi too chipped in with a 15-ball 26. Despite a heroic knock from Axar, the Indian team fell short by 16 runs as Sri Lanka levelled the series by 1-1.