Sub Chahal does the star turn

Super Sub Yuzvendra Chahal spun magic on Friday as Team India’s love affair continued at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Virat Kohli’s side beat Australia in the  first T20 international by 11 runs.

On a day when there were fielding glitches, Kohli dropping a catch and Ravindra Jadeja going out due to a concussion after scoring 44 runs, the stage was set for Chahal to come in as a substitute, sub in short.

Eventually, when Chahal finished with figures of three for 25 and was adjudged man-of-the-match, there was heartburn and acidity for the Aussies. Social media was agog with comments questioning the sub rule on concussion.

From an Indian point of view, Chahal, who did not have a great ODI series utilised the conditions very well. As skipper Virat Kohli, all smiles, said after the match, the positive energy is ebbing. He also talked of the fringe players getting the chances and grabbing it.

As the Men In Blue fly to Sydney again for the second T20 international, the mood for Indian cricket fans is one of sheer joy. T20 is instant cricket. There are instant hits on and off the field, though for Jadeja to be hit and then causing an uproar shows how even when changes are made within the rules of the game, interpretations can vary.

If KL Rahul and Jadeja were good with the bat, the total of 161 in 20 overs seemed inadequate. All along in this tour, till the third ODI, the Indian bowling was coming in for huge flak. One win in the final ODI changed the mood and altered the spirits of the Indian team. Friday was an example of capitalising well on chances.

To be sure, India’s record in T20 internationals this year has been mesmerising. It came under threat when the Aussies got off to a good start. However, the Indian bowling unit was organised tonight, perhaps as a result of having played so much T20 stuff in the IPL.

T.Natarajan, the man who made his debut in the ODIs the other day, showed he could be smart in his T20 debut as well. His 3 for 30 was rich and went to show how the underdog bowler is ready to be part of India’s white ball campaign in times to come. This was hinted at by skipper Kohli himself.

In the overall analysis, if the Aussies are whining, after this win, they need to understand their batsmen are also human and were flummoxed by Chahal and Natarajan under llghts. A word of praise for Washington Sundar, who was choking the Aussies. he finished with delightful bowling analysis of 4-0-16-0.

The second T20 international will be played on Sunday. The momentum has swung India’s way for sure.