India completed a 4-1 series win against Australia after beating them by 6 runs in the final match on Sunday. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was adjudged the Player of the tournament for his outstanding performance in the series.
There is no denying that Bishnoi has been instrumental in helping India win the series. Every time the team was in trouble, the skipper Suryakumar Yadav had gone to Bishnoi and he would take wickets. On four out of five occasions, Bishnoi claimed a wicket in his first over in the series.
In the last two consecutive matches, Australia were off to flying starts, however, Bishnoi’s introduction inside the power-play helped India break the partnership and claw their way back in the game.
Ravi Bishnoi-Axar Patel Trapped Australia in Spin Web for Remarkable Win
Travis Head gave Australia a destructive start in pursuit of a 160-run target in the fifth game on Sunday. The Aussies powered their way to 40 for 1 inside four overs. Bishnoi was then introduced into the attack and he knocked over Head’s stumps with a gem of a delivery to shift the momentum in India’s favour.
Both Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel spun a web around the opposition and changed the momentum after the powerplay. The duo has performed exceptionally well throughout the series. They have combined to pick 15 wickets at an average of 19.20. Besides, Axar Patel also played some great cameos while batting down the order.
Ahead of the start of the fifth ODI, legendary spinner M Muralitharan heaped massive praise for Ravi Bishnoi.
“India have always had a good, uh, set of spin in every generation. You see from Anil (Kumble) to (Ravi), now the young guys who have come. Bishnoi is different from any other leg spinner than any other ones. He bowls quicker and he makes slides the ball a lot and Axar also is very accurate, not a big spinner of the ball and Washi also is similar because he doesn’t turn much and is very accurate and quite quicker,” Muralitharan said.
Across five matches, Bishnoi has managed to pick nine wickets in the series. He made his India debut last year and has picked 18 wickets in 10 T20I matches, since. With consistent performances, he has made a serious claim for a place in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place next year.
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