IND vs SA | Ashish Nehra comments on Chahal bowling only two overs in the first T20I

Former India pacer turned coach Ashish Nehra was left surprised by Rishabh Pant's captaincy as he gave only two overs to the veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Yuzi conceded 26 off his 2.1 overs in the first T20I against South Africa in Delhi on June 9.

Coming into the attack during the powerplay, Yuzvendra Chahal gave away 16 runs off his first over. While he returned strongly, giving away just six runs in the next over of his spell, it was not until the final over that the experienced bowler was reintroduced. 

However, the lack of wickets in the middle overs cost Team India the game, as Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller added an unbeaten 131-run stand for the fourth wicket.

While talking about that, Ashish Nehra said on Cricbuzz: "Rishabh Pant is a young captain, he will learn and hopefully he will get better. Now if Dravid feels that Chahal should bowl an over, obviously a message can be sent. They have to keep things simple and be proactive."

And the veteran stated that Chahal should have been brought into the attack again in the middle overs to break the match-winning partnership of South Africa; Nehra continued: "It is very surprising to me that a bowler like him only bowled 2 overs today. He should have bowled to the van der Dussen-Miller pair, especially at the stage when South Africa were back in the chase. Rishabh Pant surely made a mistake over there. He also was frantic in the powerplay, using five bowlers for six overs."

However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the only Indian pacer who bowled two overs in the powerplay. The bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya and Harshal Patel were given an over each as South Africa managed to put up 61 for 2 after six overs.

Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 Purple Cap winner didn't come again in the attack entirely after the eighth over. Axar Patel, the other spinner, finished his quota of overs and registered the figures of 1-40 in his spell.

On the other hand, former India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel feels that being a wicket-taking option, Chahal should have been given more chances in the middle, irrespective of his spell.

He added, "He only bowled 2 overs today. Sometimes teams hold back leg spinners because there is a left hander batting. It is important to keep a wicket-taking option in the middle overs. If you have to stop a top-quality International batter, you will have to take his wicket, defensive bowling won't work. They will have to see how to use him in a better way."

South Africa registered their highest ever run chase in the T20 format with their victory over India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Team India failed to defend the total at the venue after a record partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller.

Patel again said: "Being unable to defend 212 with six bowlers will hurt India's mentality. You usually defend 212 on nine occasions out of 10. They will have to revisit their game plan."

Team India will take on South Africa in the second T20I on June 12 (Sunday) at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.