Harsha Bhogle Supports Karthik After Third T20I Debacle

Image Source : DNA India

The third and final T20I game between India and New Zealand saw a major controversial incident at the fag end of the game. It might not be too controversial but it definitely was a shocking incident for many fans of the cricketing fraternity.

The incident happened in the final over of India’s innings. The Kiwis had given an improbable 213-runs target from 20 overs. Things didn’t go well for the visitors as they were reeling at 145 for 6 in the 16th over.

That is when Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya joined hands and started changing the scenario. The duo hit some major blows and brought the game back on track. Now India needed 16 off the last over and Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson gave pacer Tim Southee the responsibility to defend those runs.

When the over began Karthik was on strike. He took two runs off the first ball and the next went for no runs. In the third delivery he hit the ball towards long-on. Krunal seeing the ball go the distance sprinted to take a single.

But to everyone’s shock Karthik stood his ground and denied Krunal the single. As a result Pandya was forced to return to the non-striker’s end. It was more shocking as Krunal was also in good touch and was hitting the ball well.

More Articles Related To Cricket:

Harsha Bhogle supported DK

In the next delivery Karthik had no other option but to take a single, but the damage was already done. In the final DK hit a six but India lost the game by 4 runs and the series 1-2. The entire cricketing fraternity talked about DK’s refusal of taking the single which might have changed the game.

They also started comparing him with MS Dhoni. The veteran also did the same with Ravi Ashwin in the triangular ODI series against Australia back in 2012. But that time Dhoni became a hero as he won the game for India.

Meanwhile veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle has given his own verdict on the entire incident. He said that DK might have done that in the heat of the moment. He also said that the single wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

“Lot of talk about Karthik turning down the single like Dhoni used to. He was in great touch, was backing himself. In the heat of the moment you do things by instinct. He will realise he should have taken it given Pandya was hitting well. Not sure would’ve made a difference though,” Bhogle wrote in his Twitter account.

Here is the tweet of Harsha Bhogle: