Guwahati, Assam - In the wake of India's dominant eight-wicket victory against New Zealand in the third T20I at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi credited his performance to focusing on consistent line and length. Bishnoi's disciplined bowling yielded an impressive 2/18 in his four overs, playing a crucial role in restricting New Zealand to 153/9. This helped set the stage for India's chase, which they completed in a mere 10 overs.
"I was trying to bowl in the right areas," Bishnoi stated during the post-match press conference. "It depends on my rhythm on the given day. I have worked on my lengths".
Bishnoi acknowledged a less-than-ideal IPL season previously, which prompted him to reassess his approach. "I didn't have a good IPL last season. I was a bit nervous and excited," he admitted.
After being sidelined from the Indian T20I team, the 25-year-old utilized his time away to refine his bowling skills. He mentioned working closely with coaches in his hometown of Jodhpur. Bishnoi also participated in domestic tournaments such as the Vijay Hazare, Syed Mushtaq Ali, and Ranji Trophy, which he believes aided his comeback. "It's always difficult when you are away from the side. You feel like you should be there, but you aren't," Bishnoi reflected. "I had time to work on my own bowling. I worked a lot".
His efforts paid off as he grabbed the opportunity presented in the third T20I, coming in for the rested Varun Chakaravarthy. Bishnoi made an immediate impact by dismissing Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips, who was New Zealand's top scorer with 48 runs.
Bishnoi also lauded Abhishek Sharma's explosive batting performance, where Sharma scored an unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls. "The way Abhishek is batting, India needs this. He practices a lot. Hope he continues this form for a long time," Bishnoi said. Sharma's innings, along with Suryakumar Yadav's 57 not out, propelled India to victory and a 3-0 series lead.
Jasprit Bumrah also had a significant impact with the ball, taking 3/17 in his four overs. Hardik Pandya chipped in with 2/23. India's bowling attack restricted New Zealand to 153/9, setting the stage for the dominant win.
With this win, India sealed their ninth consecutive T20 series victory. The fourth game of the series will be played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. This five-match series serves as India's final assignment before the T20 World Cup 2026, which commences on February 7.
