IND vs SA 2022: "It's the peak of absurdity!"- Fans react to Team India deciding to bowl first and Arshdeep having 'back issue'
Team India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and has opted to bowl first against South Africa in the third and final T20I of the series against South Africa in Indore. Given that it is a small ground, chasing should be easier and it seems like a sensible decision.
However, when one adds to the context that the series has already been sealed and that India have struggled to defend totals of late, it would have been a better choice to bat first and challenge themselves when they have nothing to lose.
Rohit made another remark that caught the attention of the fans, and that was the absence of Arshdeep Singh for the game. The captain said that Arshdeep had been rested due to a minor back issue as a 'precautionary measure' and that it was nothing serious.
Fans on Twitter have started to fear the worse as they have already lost Jasprit Bumrah for the T20 World Cup to a stress fracture in his back. They also questioned the hosts' decision to play Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Harshal Patel together, given how expensive they have been of late.
Here are some of the reactions:
We don't even dare to bat first in a meaningless dead rubber, all the talk about preparations and process is nothing but Jumle!
Field first 🤦♂️
@sooryasesha7 They want to practice chasing 220+
Rohit Sharma 🗣
"Arshdeep has some issues with the back. He misses out today. But it's just a precautionary measure, nothing serious."
India can't afford another injury. Death bowling is already a major concern for them.
#INDvSA
@srini_r_twit @sooryasesha7 Looks like this is the idea, they are going with that mindset if we loss toss we are already doom in WC so let's practice what we are going to do if we win tosses in Australia.
What to make of India choosing to bowl first in a dead rubber? Just ridiculous #CricketTwitter #INDvSA
Arshdeep back issues… man, you don’t have to exactly replicate him
Only one batsman in and two batsman out, our batting is too short with DK & Axar being 5 & 6...!
And upon that we've decided to chase 🤦🏻♂️
I know Siraj and Umesh is playing but Rohit you still had go for defending here imo.
#IndvSa
Dravid has been worse than last management & thats an achievement
Why the fook would you choose to bowl first in meaningless T20I bilateral wo bhi ek dead rubber meaningless T20I bilateral mein ? When your biggest weakness is defending totals ..what exactly are you gaining from it ?? Rohit's various choices over last 2 months are questionable
At this rate we should prepare for a bowling attack of Shami, Umran Malik and Kuldeep Sen at WT20.
Fielding in a dead rubber. It's the peak of absurdity! #INDvSA
Abe pure India k peeth me dard h kya.. jisko dekho back issues, byjus India hatake vicco narayani ya emami fast relief India krdo jersey me
Rohit said arsh was having issues with his back 😭😭😭😭 twitter.com/NotTheDarkBlad…
Team India playing with one batter short
The likes of Dinesh Karthik and Axar Patel are likely to move higher up the order, given that the Men in Blue have replaced both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul with a batter (Shreyas Iyer) and a bowler.
It will also be interesting to see where birthday boy Rishabh Pant bats. He might get a go at the top of the order. Firstly though, India need to bowl well and restrict South Africa to an achievable total.
Lineups:
South Africa XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj