‘Makes no sense to me’ - Gautam Gambhir slams Hardik Pandya for not using Yuzvendra Chahal enough in second T20I against NZ

Despite bowling very well in the second T20I against New Zealand at Lucknow, spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal was not given more than two overs to bowl. The 32-year-old picked up the important wicket of Finn Allen and gave away only four runs in the process.

Former India international Gautam Gambhir was not happy with this and slammed skipper Hardik Pandya for not completing Chahal’s quota of four overs. He stated that the move made no sense especially when he currently is India’s number one spinner in the shortest format of the game.

“Massive surprise. I can't answer this question, that too on a wicket like this. Chahal is your number one spinner the T20 format. Just asking him to bowl two overs and in that he got the important wicket of Finn Allen and then not using his full quota of overs makes no sense to me,” said Gambhir on Star Sports after the match.

Massive surprise, asking Hooda to bowl four overs but not Chahal: Gambhir

Interestingly, even though a part-time spinner in the form of Deepak Hooda got to complete his quota of four overs, Chahal wasn’t given the chance. Gambhir stated that it is important to give youngsters like Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi a chance to perform but also believes that the skipper should have reserved some overs for Chahal.

“Yes, you want to give young guys another opportunity like Arshdeep Singh or Shivam Mavi. But then you could have bowled Chahal in the last over as well, or earlier. So I feel he missed a trick. He could have got New Zealand bowled for maybe 80 or 85 and on this kind of pitch, you don't want to let the opposition off the hook. Massive surprise, asking Hooda to bowl four overs but not Chahal,” said Gambhir.

India nevertheless won the match by six wickets and got level in the three-match T20I series. Suryakumar Yadav for his unbeaten 26 off 31 deliveries was adjudged the Player of the Match in a low-scoring affair.

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