India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has backed the team’s T20I captain Rishabh Pant following the seven-wicket defeat in the first of five T20Is in Delhi on Thursday.
BCCI had announced KL Rahul as the captain for the five-match home T20I series against the Proteas before an untimely groin injury ruled the Lucknow Super Giants skipper out of the series.
Rishabh Pant was then named as the captain, and the team suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the series opener, despite having posted a daunting 211/4 after being put in to bat.
India had the game under control at the halfway stage of the opposition’s chase, with the visitors needing 120 off the final nine overs. However, South Africa’s duo of David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen put on a brilliant counter-attack, the former rediscovering his touch after a troubled start, to seal the deal with five balls to spare.
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The bowling changes called for a debate from some corners, with Yuzvendra Chahal having bowled just two overs before the final one. However, Pant received backing from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the most experienced quick in the current setup.
“He’s a young captain and it was his first match. I’m sure he will try to do better and improve as the series progresses. Generally, the captain is as good as the team and it’s a team effort,”
said Kumar on the eve of the second T20I in Cuttack, set to be played on June 12.
The right-arm seamer, who conceded seven from his first two overs while dismissing Temba Bavuma before conceding 34 off his last two, admitted that the bowling unit lacked in execution.
“Our bowling did not go off well and let him down. If we did well, then you would have hailed his decision-making skills. I’m sure he will do well. There wasn’t any big discussion as anyone can have an off day. As a bowling unit, we had an off day but that’s okay we just want to come back in the next match,”
he said.
