Despite India losing nine cricketers due to COVID-19 protocols, they put in a valiant effort in the 2nd T20I before going down in the final over as Sri Lanka leveled the series. Meanwhile, in the 18th over, India’s coach Rahul Dravid was seen sending in the 12th man with a chit in his hand.
The incident took place in the 18th over when rain interrupted play for a while with Lanka’s score at 113 for six. The heavens opened up and the umpires took the bails off with the groundsmen rushing in to cover the pitch. However, the rain stopped and play resumed with any reduction in overs.
Sri Lanka win the 2nd #SLvIND T20I by 4 wickets!
Three-match series levelled at 1-1.
Scorecard 👉https://t.co/Hsbf9yWCCh #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/ckDkl81GB8
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 28, 2021
During the shot break, Rahul Dravid sent in the 12th man with a small chit. The data in the chit must have been related to the Duckworth-Lewis par-score in case the rain plays a spoilsport. After 18 overs, the Lankans were three runs short of the target.
However, it didn’t matter as the rains stopped immediately and Sri Lanka walked past the target with ease with two four wickets in hand.
The selectors didn’t send you for a holiday: Rahul Dravid
Speaking ahead of the 2nd T20I, Rahul Dravid conceded the remaining players were good enough to play for Team India. His comments came after the Men in Blue lost nine cricketers due to COVID-19 restrictions after Krunal Pandya contracted the deadly virus.
“After we wrapped up the ODI series, we tried to give a few people a chance. Obviously, circumstances here have forced us to do it here even before we managed to win the series. But I truly believe that if you’re selected to play for India – whether it’s 15 players or 20 players – you’re good enough to play in the XI. I don’t really think that the selectors select you in the 15 just to warm the bench or for a holiday,” Dravid told the broadcaster ahead of the start of the 2nd T20I in Colombo.
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