Indian Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined his former team Royal Challenger Bengaluru. RCB bought him for the whopping amount of 10.75 Crores. The veteran caused the bidding war between Lucknow Supergiants and Mumbai Indians but in the end, Royal Challengers Bengaluru was able to sign him.

The pacer has 181 wickets in 176 matches with an average of 27.23. Veteran has won Purple Back back-to-back seasons in IPL 2016 & 2017. It would be a homecoming for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he started his IPL journey with the same team in 2009.

Stealth with moves like a panther, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is #NowAChallenger. 🥶

Are you ready to witness Poetry in Motion? 😍 #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPLAuction #BidForBold #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/VEtsd6P9R9

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) November 25, 2024

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and his IPL Journey

The Pacer was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier in the 2009 and 2010 season. He moved to Pune Warriors India from 2011 to 2013. As Pune Warriors India got dissolved, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him in 2014 for 4.25 Crores. Pacer was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team for 10 years. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was monumental in their 2016 IPL winning campaign as he scalped 23 wickets with an average of 21.30 and won Purple Cap in 2016. He won the purple cap again in the 2017 season, scalping 26 wickets with an average of just 14.19.

In a stunning reversal, Hyderabad managed to clinch victory from what seemed like certain defeat, inflicting only the second loss of the season on the leading team, Rajasthan. Rajasthan appeared to have the match well in hand, but a late collapse, losing several quick wickets, unexpectedly shifted the momentum in favor of Hyderabad. Rajasthan’s inning got off to a rocky start with the early losses of heavy hitters Jos Buttler and captain Sanju Samson in the opening over, placing the team under immediate pressure.

Despite the initial setbacks, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag stepped up, adopting a bold counterattacking strategy that steadied their team. They showed considerable poise under pressure, bringing the score to a healthy 60/2 at the end of the Powerplay, setting a strong foundation for the remaining chase.

The pair continued to build on this momentum, crafting a commendable 134-run partnership and both securing well-earned half-centuries. However, their dismissals within three overs of each other initiated a dramatic batting collapse. Though they had set a significant platform, it wasn’t enough as Rajasthan faltered in the final stages, narrowly missing out on a win by a slim margin.

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In-depth Analysis of SRH’s Death Overs Bowling

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck a critical blow to Rajasthan’s chase early on, dismissing both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks in the opening over. This double setback initially suggested that Rajasthan might crumble under the pressure. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag quickly steadied the ship, putting together a formidable 134-run partnership off just 78 balls, bringing stability and momentum back to their side. As long as Jaiswal and Parag were at the crease, Rajasthan appeared in control and on track for a win.

The dynamics of the match shifted dramatically after Parag’s dismissal in the 16th over, followed closely by Jaiswal’s departure in the 14th. Suddenly, Rajasthan found themselves needing 43 runs from the remaining 25 balls with six wickets in hand. This critical phase of the game marked a turning point, leaving the team to navigate a tricky finish without their key partnership at the helm.

Pat Cummins delivered a critical performance in the final stages of the game, conceding just 10 runs across his last two overs while crucially removing Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. T. Natarajan also played a key role, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer with a low full toss, right after Hetmyer had hit him for a massive 106-meter six, adding to the tension of the match’s closing moments.

However, the standout performer was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was instrumental both at the start and in the dramatic final over of the match. Having already set the tone by dismissing two of Rajasthan’s top three run-scorers in the first over, Bhuvneshwar returned to bowl the final over with only 13 runs to defend. He expertly executed yorker after yorker, but Rovman Powell managed to navigate them, squeezing out a boundary and a couple of twos.

Bhuvneshwar’s strategic bowling in these crucial moments played a pivotal role in the match’s outcome, highlighting his skill and composure under pressure. Rajasthan Royals needed just 2 runs to win on the last ball. But Rovman Powell was trapped lbw by a full toss, giving Sunrisers Hyderabad a thrilling 1-run victory. This was RR’s first loss while chasing in the ongoing IPL season.

Veteran India pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that the final result was not on his mind when he came to defend 12 runs in the final over against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday (May 2). SRH, who were put under the pump in the run chase, managed to clinch a thrilling one-run win in Hyderabad as well.

“I told everyone process is very important,” Bhuveshwar said after the game. “I was literally thoughtless, I was not thinking about the result. I was just trying to do what I can do.”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with the ball

With Rovman Powell facing strike for most of the balls in the final over, Bhuvneshwar’s task became more difficult, especially with SRH forced to bring in an extra fielder due to a slow over-rate as well. With two runs needed off the final ball, he bowled a low full toss that was missed by the batter completely as he got trapped lbw as well.

“I knew if I could bowl just two good balls, and if it went to the last ball, anything could happen,” he said. “It was a full toss, I know, but he missed it. I was not thinking about the one extra fielder up, or whatever the restriction was there, I was so detached from the result. I wasn’t thinking about where the fielder is, where he is going to hit, where I’m gonna bowl, I was so focused on the process, that was the only thing I was doing.”

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However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also did well with the new ball as he put the Royals on the backfoot very early. He dismissed both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks.

“It was the first match the ball swung so much,” he added. “I can’t really pinpoint where the ball swung last, but the way it swung I literally enjoyed it. When it swings, you are always on top of the game, you try to take wickets and luckily, I got wickets.”

Rajasthan Royals gave a tough fight

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ batting allrounder Riyan Parag also dismissed suggestions that some of the batters, including himself, threw their wickets away especially when they were heading towards another win at one stage. Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched 134 for the third wicket and had the upperhand in the game before getting dismissed.

“I don’t think any one of us threw our wickets,” he noted. “Jaiswal tried that scoop because Natarajan was bowling good slow bouncers and hence he predicted a yorker and went with that shot. I tried to muscle it for a six, probably an error in execution but I don’t really think we threw our wickets. It would have been nice to stay till the end, it was the plan for both of us.”

“I was pretty confident but you have to give credit to how they bowled,” he said. “It’s their home ground, they bowled like they knew how the wicket was playing. You got to give credit to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Natarajan and Cummins. Cummins especially bowling that 19th over, going for 8 runs or something like that, they bowled better than us in the slog overs.”

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches its 2024 season, cricket fanatics eagerly await the exciting confrontations and standout performances that distinguish the competition. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise is one of the teams that is attracting notice, having added excellent talent to their squad.

Armed with a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents, SRH hope to end their title drought that began in 2016 by winning a second championship this year. In this article, we will focus on the Orange Army’s top four players that could create an impact on the team’s upcoming run in the IPL 2024 edition.

Heinrich Klassen 

Heinrich Klaasen, the South African power hitter, is one of the players who will be focused from the Orange Army side. Klaasen’s aggressive, clean striking and ability to overpower bowlers can turn the tide in SRH’s favour during vital occasions; his ability to accelerate the scoring rate in the middle overs will be critical for SRH’s innings-building.

Klaasen had an outstanding season with SRH, scoring a century for the team. Heinrich Klaasen, currently in excellent form, is anticipated to play an essential part for SRH as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Klaasen has made 512 runs in 19 IPL appearances, including a century and two fifties.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the Indian medium-fast bowler, has been a regular part of the Hyderabad-based franchise since 2014 and is regarded as one of the finest pace bowlers in IPL history, with two purple caps. Kumar, who has 170 wickets in 160 games at an astonishing economy rate of 7.39, will join captain Pat Cummins in the powerplay.

Also, not to forget his recent performance in the 2023 UP T20 league when he represented the Noida Super Kings and performed an outstanding job with the ball, taking 14 wickets in just nine matches with an economy rate of 5.81, making him the tournament’s fourth top wicket-taker. 

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Pat Cummins

Australian speedster Pat Cummins leads the SRH team from the front. Cummins brings new energy to SRH’s roster, drawing on his leadership skills and experience guiding Australia to many wins. The Australian skipper is the tournament’s second most expensive player, costing a whopping INR 20.5 crore following a fierce auction war with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Aside from his bowling abilities, Cummins’ ability to score critical runs strengthens SRH’s batting lineup. He has played 42 games in the premier league and taken 45 wickets. Furthermore, he has scored 379 runs with a phenomenal strike rate of 152.21. 

Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan leg-spinning maestro, will join the SRH camp after spending three seasons with RCB. The 26-year-old all-rounder is now ranked second in the ICC shortest format rankings and is regarded as one of the best leg-break bowlers.

His ability to take up wickets in the middle overs and control the run flow might be critical to SRH’s prospects this season. IPL fans were surprised to learn of his purchase for a measly INR 1.5 crore, but based on the spinmeister’s performance, it may be a fantastic deal for SRH. In 26 IPL matches, he has 35 wickets at an 8.13 economy rate. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a cricket tournament; it’s a spectacle that captivates millions of fans worldwide. The seventeenth season of this IPL festival will start on 22nd March 2024 between the five-time title holder and defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, and one of the most loyal franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore. It will be interesting to see how the team will perform this season because we will have this IPL season in two parts due to the assembly election in India. 

The schedule for the first half has been announced, and the other half will be declared soon by BCCI. Apart from team performance, two of their performances will grab attention: Purple cap winner (the player who will take the most wickets in a season) and orange cap winner (the player who scored the most in a season).  

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Among the many accolades, the Purple Cap is a coveted prize awarded to the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. As we gear up for IPL 2024, let’s delve into the potential contenders for the Purple Cap and what sets them apart.

Jasprit Bumrah: The Yorker Specialist

Jasprit Bumrah, synonymous with lethal yorkers and impeccable line and length, is pivotal in the Mumbai Indians’ bowling arsenal. Despite missing the 2023 IPL due to injury, his stellar performances in international cricket hint at his readiness to dominate IPL 2024. With 145 wickets in 120 IPL matches at an average of 23.30, Bumrah is a formidable contender.

Yuzvendra Chahal: The Spin Maestro

In the Rajasthan Royals’ camp, Yuzvendra Chahal’s guile and variety add depth to their bowling attack. With 187 wickets in 145 IPL matches at an average of 21.69, Chahal’s ability to adapt to different conditions and pick crucial wickets makes him a genuine threat for the Purple Cap in IPL 2024.

Rashid Khan: The Afghan Sensation

Joining Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan brings his spin magic to the fore. Despite a lower back injury setback, his track record of 139 wickets in 109 IPL matches at an average of 20.76 showcases his prowess. Rashid’s ability to take wickets on any surface makes him a prime candidate for the Purple Cap.

Mohammed Siraj: The Shining Star

Mohammed Siraj’s meteoric rise in the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s ranks has been remarkable. With 78 wickets in 79 IPL matches at an average of 29.83, Siraj’s pace and accuracy have troubled many batters. With impressive performances in IPL 2023 and other international competitions, Siraj has showcased his ability to deliver under pressure. His knack for picking crucial wickets under pressure makes him a dark horse for the Purple Cap. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The Swing King

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a two-time Purple Cap winner, remains a seasoned campaigner in the IPL. With 170 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 25.86, Bhuvi’s ability to swing the ball both ways and deliver pinpoint yorkers threatens opposition batters. Despite facing challenges with injuries, his experience and skill make him a contender for the Purple Cap in IPL 2024.

Each of these bowlers brings unique strengths to the table. Whether it’s Bumrah’s toe-crushing yorkers, Chahal’s strategic variations, Rashid’s spin prowess, Siraj’s pace, or Bhuvi’s swing and seam movement, their skills make them formidable contenders for the Purple Cap.

Factors such as current form, match conditions, team strategies, and opponents will determine the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2024. With the stakes high and competition fierce, fans can expect an exhilarating battle among these bowling stalwarts.

As the countdown to IPL 2024 commences, the race for the Purple Cap promises to be intense and captivating. With a lineup of formidable bowlers vying for supremacy, cricket enthusiasts can anticipate thrilling battles and memorable performances on the field. Whether it’s Bumrah’s yorker barrage or Rashid’s spin magic, the stage is set for an enthralling spectacle in the quest for the Purple Cap.

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is on the verge of setting a significant record in the game’s shortest format with India’s three-match T20I series against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar will be the bowler with the most wickets in a calendar year if he takes four against New Zealand in the series.

He has taken 36 wickets in 30 matches so far in 2022.

Joshua Brian Little of Ireland holds the record for the most wickets taken in a calendar year.Little, who performed admirably at the T20 World Cup, has taken 39 wickets in 2022. Bhuvneshwar became India’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the shortest format during the T20 World Cup.In the game’s shortest format, Bhuvneshwar has taken 89 wickets in total. He has represented Team India in 85 T20Is.

India will play three T20Is, followed by as many ODIs, against the Kiwis.

The first T20I will be played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Friday, November 18.

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Squad for New Zealand T20Is: Hardik Pandya (C), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), W Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umran Malik.
New Zealand T20I squad: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Blair Tickner.

Skipper Rohit Sharma has backed the struggling Bhuvneshwar Kumar to come out of the difficult phase he’s going through. Bhuvneshwar’s disappointing show with the ball has been a major reason behind India’s recent T20I losses, but Rohit seems to have unwavering faith in the senior pacer.  According to Rohit, Bhuvneshwar needs to be given some space, which could enable him to work his way back to prime form. “It’s important that we give Bhuvi that space, given the quality that he brings to the side.

“We know that he’s had more good days than bad ones over the years. We’ve been working on some plans and hopefully, we can give him more options to bowl at the death. And then he’ll be as good as he was before,” Rohit said in Sunday’s news conference after India’s six-wicket win over Australia in the third and final T20I in Hyderabad. In spite of his woeful run, Bhuvneshwar is not short on confidence, the captain believes.

Also Read: Shami, Hooda unlikely for SA series

We need to give him time and space to work on his skills and get back in form

“It’s time for us to show that faith in him and keep backing his skillset. “From our side, we’re trying to work out the things we can do because when you’re bowling at the death, you can’t be predictable. You need to have options to bowl on both sides of the ground and set the field accordingly. “And for someone with the experience of Bhuvi, it’ll be easy for him to grasp all that knowledge,” Rohit explained. Rohit also backed Harshal Patel who, returning after a long injury layoff, had a tough time in the T20Is against Australia. “We won’t judge Harshal on the basis of how he has performed in this series. We know his quality.”

Mohammed Shami is yet to recover from Covid-19 and has been ruled out of the T20Is versus South Africa. He had missed the series against Australia too. The pacer has not travelled to Thiruvananthapuram, the venue for the first game. Umesh Yadav, who was a replacement for Shami, will continue to be with the team. Deepak Hooda, who missed the last T20I against Australia because of a back injury, will travel to the National Cricket Academy and also miss the South Africa series. Shreyas Iyer will be his replacement. Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed will also join the side since Hardik Pandya will also be at the NCA for “conditioning-related work”.

The first T20I of the three-match series was played on Tuesday in Mohali, where Team India suffered a crushing loss to Australia. Team India was unable to hold on to a goal of 209 despite Hardik Pandya‘s impressive performance with the bat, who hammered 71* off 30 balls. Australia was victorious by four wickets thanks to the heroics of Cameron Green (61), who performed admirably, and Matthew Wade (45*). In their eight overs together, the fast bowling pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel allowed 101 runs to be scored.

Since he let up a total of 16 runs in the 19th over on Tuesday, Bhuvneshwar’s bowling in the last innings has been a source of concern for the past few games. However, Matthew Hayden, a former cricketer for Australia, backed Bhuvneshwar and referred to him as a “good finisher.”

“I disagree with that, I think he can and has been a very good finisher. I think that’s his role, I mean, obviously, his role is to take wickets up front but if your skipper wants an over or two from you at the end, then he can do that,”

Hayden told Star Sports.

In the recent few games, Bhuvneshwar has shown to be quite expensive in the final overs. The pacer lost to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the recently concluded Asia Cup, allowing 19 and 14 runs in the 19th over, respectively.

With regard to the game, it was Hardik’s second T20I fifty, and the innings was extremely important because India scored 208/6. The groundwork for India had been set earlier by KL Rahul 55 off 35 balls and Suryakumar Yadav 46 off 25 balls.

Australia managed to reach the target with four deliveries remaining, but it was not enough.

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The opponents took a 1-0 series lead because to Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 45 off 21 at No. 7 and Cameron Green’s 61 off 30 at the top of the order which was strong. Axar Patel excelled with the bat, taking three wickets for just 17 runs off of his four overs, but the Australian hitters completely destroyed the rest of the Indian bowlers.

IND vs AFG: India 212 for 2 (Kohli 122*, Rahul 62, Fareed 2-57) beat Afghanistan 111 for 8 (Ibrahim 64*, Bhuvneshwar 5-4) by 101 runs

Indeed, even Virat Kohli was stunned it came in this format. One-thousand-twenty days and 83 international innings since he last scored 100, Kohli got his subtle No. 71 in a T20 international against Afghanistan in India’s last match of the Asia Cup. Offered the chance to open the innings without the resting skipper, Rohit Sharma, Kohli played a classic innings, going from 10 off 10 to 50 off 32 and afterward scoring 63 off the last 21 balls he played. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then, at that point, returned figures of 4-1-4-5 with every way swing to leave Afghanistan faltering.

Playing under 24 hours after the shock against Pakistan, Afghanistan wore a stupefied look. They dropped three relatively easy catches, and seemed as though they had no reaction when Kohli went in all out attack mode. Furthermore, Bhuvneshwar didn’t have to set batters up. Outswingers took edges, inswingers crushed the stumps, and more slow balls were chipped to defenders.

New opening pair takes time and then go bang

The match began with the energy of a dead elastic. India rolled out three changes, and it would have been extreme for Afghanistan to get up and clean themselves in a match they had nothing to play for. The first two overs went unobtrusively by, yet in the third KL Rahul started to push India’s goal. Kohli dismantled Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the 6th, descending the wicket and arriving at the pitch of the ball to nullify his secret, and furthermore utilising the uncommon scope. Soon he overtook Rahul.

In the eighth over, came an essential snapshot of the match: Kohli mis-hit a draw of Mohammad Nabi, however Ibrahim Zadran misinterpreted the space behind him, ended up going one-handed and tapping the ball over the boundary.

Rahul falls yet Kohli continues to speed up

Rahul attempted to push the scoring rate up, continued in Kohli’s means with a fifty and when he was looking perilous and ready for his regular steep speed increase, he confounded a draw down the ground for a catch to long-on. Suryakumar Yadav started with a six on the first ball but played on the second ball. Rishabh Pant then, at that point, attempted to get moving.

King Kohli’s comeback

At the opposite end, Kohli was presently into the death overs, still new and his eye in. This is where he gets dangerous in T20 cricket. This is a stage he has been attempting to get into in T20 cricket for some time, however he has not had the chance to.

Kohli then released punishment on Afghanistan. He gave Rashid Khan the charge and hit a six, which isn’t easy to do. Then, at that point, the left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi were dismissed. The hundred accompanied a level six through a draw to a short-of-a-length delivery. He then kissed his wedding band to recognize the help and love of the individual who showed him perspective during this century dry spell, his wife Anushka.

In the last over, it seemed as though Kohli was simply showing off. There was a charge and a flick for a six, a no-look pull for a six, and afterward the extra-cover drive along the ground for four.

Bhuvneshwar runs through the batting

Things were only getting worse for Afghanistan. Bhuvneshwar’s fourth ball was the ideal delivery: pitching on leg stump, swinging against the point, hitting Hazratullah Zazai before leg stumps and would have proceeded to hit leg stump. Two balls later, he swung the ball the opposite way and passed through the door Rahmanullah Gurbaz introduced.

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In his second over, Bhuvneshwar created the outswinger-inswinger stunt once more. Karim Janat edged to slip, and Najibullah Zadran was late on an inswinger, caught right in front.

Bowling four on the run, Bhuvneshwar had Azmatullah Omarzai chip a slower ball directly to short cover. The five-for reduced Afghanistan to 21 for 6.

Ibrahim then scored a fifty yet that was just deferring the inevitable.

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya picked up three wickets and then smashed an unbeaten 33 to seal a five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a low-scoring thriller in the Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament in Dubai on Sunday. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up four wickets, including the prized scalp of Babar Azam, while Pandya expertly used short-pitched deliveries in India’s inspired fast-bowling display to help them skittle out Pakistan for 147.

All Pakistan wickets fell to India’s fast bowlers with Arshdeep Singh taking two and Avesh Khan picking up the remaining one. In reply, the Pakistan bowlers fought hard and took the match to the final over when Pandya hit a massive six to seal the victory with two balls to spare. With bilateral cricket remaining suspended between the bitter neighbors, India and Pakistan play each other only in multi-team tournaments with their rivalry now a rare but enticing occasion for fans worldwide.

Also Read: Asia Cup’22, IND vs PAK: IND wins by 5 wickets!

Pandya’s innings show why he is still a dependable finisher for this team

Pakistan came into the contest having mauled India by 10 wickets in a Twenty20 World Cup match at the same venue in October in their last meeting. It was India who landed the first blow when Bhuvneshwar dismissed Pakistan batting mainstay Babar for 10 in the third over with a sharply rising delivery after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field.

Pandya dismissed the big-hitting Iftikhar Ahmed for 28 and also sent back well-set opener Mohammad Rizwan, who made 43, and Khushdil Shah in the same overall through short-pitched deliveries. After Pandya scythed through the middle order, Bhuvneshwar returned for his second spell to clean up the Pakistan tail by dismissing Asif Ali, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah. With fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who made a big impact in their last win over India, missing due to injury, Pakistan’s attack missed the firepower necessary to defend a low total and struggled in hot and humid conditions.

Fast bowler Naseem, 19, gave Pakistan an ideal start by dismissing KL Rahul without scoring before Virat Kohli and Rohit steadied things for India with a stand of 49. Kohli, who is in the middle of a prolonged lean patch, was dropped at slip off Naseem before he had opened his scoring. He struggled for timing during his laboured 35 off 34 balls. India found themselves in a spot of bother when Kohli and Rohit both fell to left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz in successive overs.