Maninder Singh Criticises Costly No-Balls in India's T20I Defeat
Former Indian cricketer Maninder Singh expressed his disappointment after India's 4-wicket loss to England in the 2nd T20I on Monday. He pinpointed the 17th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi, which conceded 29 runs, as the turning point. Speaking to ANI, Singh described bowling no-balls in T20 cricket as a 'crime' and blamed the coaching staff for not addressing Bishnoi's positioning in the nets.
Bishnoi's 17th Over: 29 Runs and Three No-Balls
India appeared in control until the 16th over, but Bishnoi's over changed the game. He bowled three no-balls, including a high full-toss, allowing England to score freely. 'In today's cricket, I consider bowling a no-ball a crime. We lost the match because of the 29 runs Bishnoi conceded in the 17th over,' Singh said. He urged the bowling coach to focus on discipline during practice sessions.
Shreyas Iyer's Captaincy and Lack of Preparation
Maninder Singh supported new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, noting his limited preparation time compared to his IPL role with Punjab Kings. 'His first win will come. He hasn't had that kind of time here, but he is a captain with a good head on his shoulders,' Singh said. He backed Iyer to turn things around once he builds his preferred squad.
Batting Woes Continue on UK Tour
India's batting lineup struggled throughout the tour. Singh highlighted Tilak Varma's low strike rate, Sanju Samson's poor form, and Ishan Kishan's slow 49 off 40 balls in Manchester. 'I am a little worried about India's batting struggles because the conditions are so different,' he said. The former spinner emphasised the need for early acclimatisation, suggesting the squad should have travelled earlier and played practice matches.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Debut and Team Collapse
India elected to bat first, handing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his international debut—the youngest Indian at 15 years and 99 days. He scored 14 off 10 balls with two sixes before falling. Abhishek Sharma (43 off 24) and Shreyas Iyer (37 off 22) provided quick starts, but India collapsed from 130/2 to 165/6. Tilak Varma's 24* off 11 balls pushed the total to 190/7. Sam Curran took 3/33 for England.
England Chase Led by Jacob Bethell
England lost openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler for ducks, but skipper Harry Brook (39 off 15) and Jacob Bethell rebuilt. Bethell scored an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls, with five fours and five sixes, sharing a 67-run stand with Tom Banton (39 off 32). England chased down the target in 19 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the first T20I was washed out.
