'Injury se aaya hai, itna toh benefit banta hai' - Suryakumar Yadav backs Harshal Patel to come good soon in T20Is

India's bowling attack has come under severe criticism after not being able to defend a big total in the Mohali T20I against Australia on Tuesday (September 20). India couldn't defend 55 runs in the last four overs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel conceding 53 runs in three overs combined. The latter was taken apart for 22 runs in the 18th over he bowled which turned the tide in Australia's favour.

However, Suryakumar Yadav has come out in defence of the fast bowler stating that he is returning from injury. Harshal missed out all the recent action and only made a comeback for the ongoing series against Australia. He is also a part of the T20 World Cup squad which has concerned fans the most after the way he was taken away for runs.

Harshal Patel is India's one of the first-choice pacers, especially at the death and him going for runs in the first T20I didn't go well with the experts. But Surya asked reporters to cut him some slack and also noted that it is tough to pick Harshal's variations in the nets.

"Thoda injury se aaya hai, itna toh benefit banta hai (Cut him some slack, he is coming back after the injury). It is difficult to read Harshal's slower ball and variations. Whatever I have faced him in the nets, I can assure you guys that he is not predictable at all. He is very deceptive. He has been working really hard on his bowling," Surya told reporters on the eve of the second T20I against Australia.

Will India make any changes for 2nd T20I?

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if team India make any changes for the must-win second T20I to be played on September 23 (Friday) in Nagpur. Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to make his comeback in place of Umesh Yadav who was also expensive in the series opener. Apart from him, even Bhuvneshwar Kumar is under the scanner after bowling an expensive 19th over for the third time in four matches.