Ravi Bishnoi IPL: How Retaining The Leg Spinner Was A Masterstroke By LSG

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Ravi Bishnoi [Source: AP Photos]Ravi Bishnoi [Source: AP Photos]

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India are playing against England in a very important fourth T20I of the five match series at the MCA in Pune. Jos Buttler won the toss off the game and asked India to bat first. 

India did not have a great start to their innings as they lost their top three for literally nothing. Saqib Mahmood made light work of the Indian top-order and reduced them to 12/3 inside the first two overs. It took to brilliant half-centuries by Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya to bail India out of pressure and take them to a competitive total of 181/9 at the end of the 20 overs.

In the chase, England got a good start with Phil Salt and Ben Duckett providing them with a blazing start. However, after the fall of the Ben Duckett a mini collapse occurred for England and one of the key factors behind it was the brilliant bowling by Ravi Bishnoi.

The performance of Bishnoi will bring smile on the face of the LSG management was they will be happy with their decision to retain Ravi Bishnoi for a price of INR 11 Cr. Here is a look at why it was a masterstroke by the franchise.

What We Learn From His Bowling In The 4th T20I vs England?

Ravi Bishnoi came to bowl at a stage when the two English batters were taking the attack to the Indian bowling. Surya brought Bishnoi to the attack, when England had already posted 53 runs in just five overs. They were going over 10 runs an over and the total posted by India did not look like a big one. 

However, Bishnoi was unfazed by the pressure the batters were putting on the other bowlers. He bowled a few quicker deliveries and then tossed one up to decieve Ben Duckett and draw first blood for India. This spoke of his nerves and the courage to play with the batter's ego even when the opposition is dominating the proceedigs. 

Bishnoi's Suitability To Ekana's Wicket

The pitch at the Ekana cricket stadium in Lucknow is generally a dry one and favours the spinners. The performances of Bishnoi at this venue in IPL 2025  proves that he is perfectly suited to bowl at the venue. In the 13 matches that Bishnoi has played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, he has picked up 15 wickets while having an economy of just 7.64.

The figures suggest that he is good at this venue and creates pressure not only by picking up wickets but also by containing runs. So given the utility of the player and the form that he is in, LSG have played a masterstroke by retaining him for ₹ 11 Cr.