Aakash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta Reignite Debate on Karthik-Krunal ‘Single’ Incident in India vs New Zealand Final T20I

Following a no-show by India's otherwise reliable batsmen, the loss sparked a debate - if Dinesh Karthik should have taken a single to hand the strike to Krunal Pandya.

The recently concluded India’s tour of New Zealand concluded with a 2-1 victory in the T20I in favour of the Kiwis. Both the teams headed into the final and third T20 with a 1-1 draw and the hosts sealed it from there. Following a no-show by India’s otherwise reliable batsmen, the loss sparked a debate – if Dinesh Karthik should have taken a single to hand the strike to Krunal Pandya. The former was criticised majorly for not letting Krunal take striker in the third delivery of the final over on the 3rd T20I.

Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta has weighed-in on the topic, defending Karthik for not taking a single and going with his instincts. However, former Indian batsman and now, TV anchor Aakash Chopra termed the incident of the game as a ‘brain-fade moment’ by Karthik.

That’s his job now, to finish games . I would have been upset had he taken the single. That would be shirking his responsibility, glad he didn’t. You win some and you lose some but attitude is what matters. https://t.co/W5NH7UCcjY
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) February 14, 2019

Taking to his official social media handle, Dasgupta tweeted, “That’s his job now, to finish games. I would have been upset had he taken the single. That would be shirking his responsibility, glad he didn’t. You win some and you lose some but the attitude is what matters.”

Chopra replied that Krunal was not given the strike despite him cleaning the ball cleanly till then. Adding that he doesn’t know whether the outcome of the match would have got affected or not but ‘that’run should have been taken.

“Really? Considering how cleanly Krunal was striking at the other end? Then why take a single off the following ball?? That was a bit of a brain-fade moment in my humble opinion, mate. Not that it would’ve changed the outcome but ‘that’ single should’ve been taken,” Chopra replied to Dasgupta.

It was a thrilling end to a gripping encounter as New Zealand maintain their perfect record at home and denied India a historical series win in the shortest format. Team India failed to chase down a 200 plus total on the Kiwiland resulting in a T20I series loss 1-2. Set 213 to win the decider in Hamilton, India managed 208 thanks to a spirited bowling effort from New Zealand. The men in blue savoured a historic Test and ODI bilateral series win in Australia before recording their biggest ODI series win on New Zealand soil.