Australian coach Justin Langer heaped praise on Hardik Pandya who finished the second T20 of the series between India and Australia and led the visitors’ pursuit of 192 runs to win the series. Langer called Pandya’s innings a great spectacle and compared his finishing skills to former Indian captain MS Dhoni.
"It was an incredible spectacle of a game. We know how dangerous he is. In the past, we had MS Dhoni and the way he played today. He has played really well all summer so obviously it was a great innings in the end there," Langer said at the virtual post-match press conference.
Langer also admitted that the Indian side was richer in the experience of T20 cricket than his side and in the end, it made the difference in the match that produced an electric atmosphere at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
"I thought the whole game was a very close one. Our fielding was absolutely incredible, it was electric to watch, but India with their experienced T20 players were too good for us today," Langer added.
Australia lost the T20 and with that, the three-match series 2-0 with a match remaining, but Langer was not lost on the multiple positives in the performances the side has been putting through on the field since the limited-overs tour to England earlier this year.
"Didn't quite get us there, but we certainly had our chances to win the game like most of the games we have played ... since the England (tour)," Langer added.
Langer also spoke highly of the leg spinner Mitchell Swepson who finished with two wickets in the second T20 and fitted so well in the setup of two wrist spinners. He also took a couple of catches and langer said that the spinner had put in a really big performance in the series against India.
After Aaron Finch was ruled out of the game due to hip injury, Matthew Wade had to step in to lead the hosts and the coach Langer said that the left hander had a really great game in all departments. He stated the innings with a bang and posted a fifty while shuffled bowlers around according to the need of situations while his performance behind the stumps was also excellent as he took a tough, diving catch to send Virat Kohli back to the pavilion at a crucial juncture of the game
"He did a really good job, mixed the bowling around well, that catch to get Virat out was an excellent catch. He had a good game," Langer said on Wade.
The third and final T20 of the series will be played at the SCG on December 08 and the hosts will be looking forward to winning at least one T20 to salvage the pride while the visitors will be going for an all-out attack for a clean sweep.
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