'Lack of Intent Might Cost India', Feels Mitchell McClenaghan as India Look to End Trophy Drought Against South Africa

Former New Zealand international Mitchell McClenaghan opined that a lack of intent with the willow could prove detrimental to India’s chances in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa.

The former Kiwi seamer posted an update that read, “Lack of intent in the middle might cost India,” on his social media handle.

Team India won the toss in the summit clash at Barbados and skipper Rohit Sharma opened the innings with star batter Virat Kohli.

Kohli, who was hitherto out of form in the ICC showpiece, gave India a blistering start as he picked up a couple of boundaries off Marco Jansen’s opening over, but the Proteas got an early break thanks to spinner Keshav Maharaj’s twin strike in the second over.

Rohit was the first to depart as Heinrich Klaasen picked up a catch of the Indian captain inside the circle after having scored 9 runs, before Maharaj doubled his wicket tally in the same over with the scalp of Rishabh Pant for a duck.

Suryakumar Yadav also fell cheaply as he was scalped by Kagiso Rabada for just 3 runs off 4 balls, before Axar came out to accompany Kohli in the middle and stabilise the Indian innings.

Axar and Kohli put up a 72-run stand before the former fell for 47 due to a Quinton de Kock runout. Kohli was involved in yet another fifty-plus run stand alongside Shivam Dube as the star batter crossed the half-century mark himself too.

Kohli added 76 runs off 59 balls before falling prey to Rabada but had helped India get past the 150-run mark by then. Dube added 27 runs off 16 deliveries before Anrich Nortje picked up the wicket of the southpaw.

Hardik Panda chipped in with 5 runs and remained unbeaten while Ravindra Jadeja succumbed to Nortje in the final ball of the innings as India managed to put up a total of 176 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs.

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