West Indies pulled off an upset victory against India in a thrilling T20 clash with a gutsy performance. Despite India’s T20 team being built with the future in mind, they struggled to overcome the challenges presented by the West Indies side.
Batting first on a slow Tarouba pitch, West Indies managed to put up a total of 149 runs, thanks to a top-score of 48 from their captain, Rovman Powell. The West Indies bowlers then put on a remarkable display, repelling India’s three-man spin attack and making life difficult for their batters. Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, and Romario Shepherd showcased their experience, guile, and gumption to secure a hard-earned victory.
In the chase, the game hung in the balance as India needed 37 runs off 29 balls when Hardik Pandya got bowled. Even when India required just ten runs off the final over with three wickets in hand, Romario Shepherd tilted the game in West Indies’ favor. This victory is particularly sweet for West Indies, as they have struggled against India in T20Is over the past five years.
Hosein, back from the Major League Cricket tournament in the USA, set the tone for West Indies by dismissing Shubman Gill in the powerplay. He was superb throughout, finishing with figures of 4-17-1, including 14 dot balls. Holder, Obed McCoy, and Shepherd also played their part by taking the pace off the ball, making it challenging for India’s batters.
The slow pitch proved to be a challenge for India’s batsmen. Suryakumar Yadav could only manage to score one run square of the wicket, while debutant Tilak Varma, who top-scored for India with 39 runs off 22 balls, and captain Hardik fell victim to offcutters. Despite a late cameo from Arshdeep Singh, India couldn’t mount a successful comeback.
West Indies got off to a flying start in their innings, with Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran laying the foundation for their powerplay score of 54 runs. King took on India’s bowlers aggressively, hitting consecutive fours off debutant Mukesh Kumar’s first over. He even belted Axar Patel for a six before being trapped by Yuzvendra Chahal. Pooran then took charge, displaying a range of sweeps against India’s spinners.
Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal, and the seamers utilized the pitch to their advantage, applying brakes on the West Indies’ scoring rate. While Kuldeep and Chahal shared three wickets between them, it was Hardik who claimed the valuable wicket of Pooran for 41 runs.
Hardik and Arshdeep excelled in the death overs with their yorkers and hard-to-hit full tosses. In the last three overs, India prevented West Indies from scoring a single boundary. Despite their efforts, India’s shaky start, losing both Gill and Ishan Kishan in the powerplay, proved costly.
West Indies’ fielding was exceptional, with Shimron Hetmyer taking a diving catch at extra-cover to dismiss Suryakumar, and Kyle Mayers producing a direct hit to run out Sanju Samson. The seamers continuously utilized quick short balls and slower cutters, while Holder impressed with a double wicket-maiden in the 16th over.
Although West Indies had a slow over-rate, forcing them to have only four fielders on the boundary for the last two overs, McCoy and Shepherd remained composed and closed out the game.
In conclusion, West Indies’ gutsy performance against India in the T20 clash demonstrated their competitiveness even when facing a strong opposition. They defied recent trends and emerged victorious, showcasing the strength of their young talent and the experience of their senior players. The win will undoubtedly boost West Indies’ confidence, while India will look to learn from this defeat and grow as a team.
