Ravi Bishnoi Backs Rishabh Pant's Challengeing Bowling Choices

In a closely fought match recently Lucknow Super Giants were at a turning point when MS Dhoni stepped out to bat. With Chennai Super Kings requiring 56 from the last 30 balls and the game balanced on a knife edge a number of fans and commentators believed leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi to bowl his final over. Bishnoi had already bowled an excellent spell taking 2 wickets for just 18 runs in 3 overs and was looking dangerous. But surprisingly captain Rishabh Pant decided not to send him to bowl again and instead opted for pace bowlers in the last overs. This move did not work as intended and CSK won the match.

During the second strategic timeout the game could have been either way. Dhoni had just entered and Shivam Dube was finding it difficult to score runs. He had scored only 17 runs off 20 balls and was not appearing confident. Bishnoi had already bowled to him and kept it tight conceding only one run in two balls. Dhoni was a finisher but he hadn't been doing great against spin in the tournament till now. Till this game he had only managed to score 34 runs off 34 balls against spin and had played 15 dot balls. Against pace, though, he was much more hazardous scoring 70 runs off 37 balls. Following the timeout Dhoni came out with the bat and lifted up his score to 96 off 48 balls which was just double his strike rate against spin.

Regardless of how things worked out, Bishnoi defended his captain's call. The Jharkhand player stated Pant had a clear strategy and believed what he was perceiving from behind the stumps. Bishnoi added that the skipper is best placed to assess the situation as he gets to see everything happening from behind the wicket. Although Bishnoi walked onto the pitch twice during the last overs he said there was no doubt regarding who was to bowl. He opined that Pant knew exactly what he wanted to do and took the decision on what he felt would be in the best interest of the team. 

Pant later conceded during the post-match interview that he had thought of giving Bishnoi the last over but changed his mind after talking to a number of players. He explained that they wanted to extend the game and push it deeper but it did not work out. The concern was that if Dhoni or Dube could get one big over off spin it would open up the match. Although that threat was genuine many believe that Bishnoi's disciplined bowling could have been the difference.

The subsequent overs, the overspun, put the game in the favor of CSK. Avesh Khan and Shardul Thakur pace bowlers couldn't control the batsmen. They were severely struck by the batters in the 16th 17th and 19th overs and that proved to be the deciding factor later on. But Bishnoi remained committed to the decision of his captain expressing that Pant had full command over everything and was acting with the team's interest.

The debate over this move has been a hot topic with people feeling that Bishnoi needed to be given the ball for at least one additional over. That Dube was not comfortable and Dhoni had not played well against spin was an added point of argument. But cricket is a sport of fine lines and sometimes even the best-laid plans do not go the way a team desires.

Bishnoi’s performance was one of the bright spots in the game. He bowled tightly in the middle overs and took two important wickets. His ability to control runs and build pressure has made him one of the most dependable bowlers for Lucknow Super Giants. Even though he did not bowl his final over he showed maturity and calmness by supporting his captain publicly after the game.

In the end decisions made under pressure are always hard and it is easier to judge them after the match is over. Pant took a calculated risk by going with pace bowlers at the death and it just did not work out this time. Bishnoi’s backing of his captain shows unity in the team and a belief in each other’s judgement. This type of assistance can be extremely crucial for teams who are seeking to recover from challenging defeats and return even stronger in the following game.