IPL 2020: Rohit Sharma explains why he didn’t send Ishan Kishan for the super over

The Indian Premier League 2020 within 10 days has featured another nail-biting super over as Royal Challengers Bangalore slightly edged Mumbai Indians.

The thriller almost replicated the historic match a day before between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. The RCB batting first put up a mammoth score of 201 runs. During the chase, MI looked wobbled as they were reduced for just 78-4 in 11 overs.

Young Ishan Kishan, however, who was playing his first match of the IPL, didn’t want to give up. He, along with Kieron Pollard build a solid partnership until the 16th over. Yet the defending champions needed 80 runs to win in just 4 overs. However, what followed after that was absolute carnage!

Both Kishan and Pollard started off by attacking both the spinners who were successful until that point. They scored 27 off Zampa and 22 off Chahal. This reduced the equation to 31 needed off 12 balls and MI managed to score 30. Kishan almost pulled out the heroics which were attained by Rahul Tewatia the other day. Kishan ended up scoring 99 off just 58 balls which included 9 massive sixes. Pollard finished at 60 off 24 balls.

Despite that Kishan wasn’t used for the super over. This decision of the four-time champs baffled the cricketing community.

Rohit Sharma explained the decision of not sending Kishan

Navdeep Saini handled the super over for RCB and restricted the mighty Mumbai Indians to only 7 runs. Jasprit Bumrah took responsibility for MI and bowled really well, however, 7 runs were just too less to defend.

Speaking in an interview, skipper Sharma revealed the reason why he didn’t send the youngster to bat.

“He was drained out and he was not comfortable for the Super Over. He was not feeling fresh and Hardik is someone we trust hitting the long balls“, he said.

He also claimed that luck wasn’t necessarily on their side after a top edge of AB de Villiers went for four.

“Seven runs, you have to have luck on your side and get a wicket in the first two balls. And that unfortunate edge over fine leg made it two in two for them. We were not in the game at all when we started with the bat. Great innings by Ishan to get us back. Polly was brilliant as usual. Just that we didn’t start well, I thought we could have got 200 with the batting we have. With Polly being there, anything can happen, and Ishan can hit it.“

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