India’s Late Batting Blunder Nearly Cost Them Victory Against West Indies
India stumbled upon a late batting blunder that almost cost them victory in their first T20I match against the West Indies. The team management’s lack of confidence in Yuzvendra Chahal’s batting ability became evident during a crucial moment in the match. With only 10 runs required off 5 balls and two wickets in hand, the decision to send debutant Mukesh Kumar to bat at No.10 instead of Chahal raised eyebrows.
As the wicket of Kuldeep Yadav fell in the first ball of the 20th over, Chahal geared up to take his place at the crease, only to be instructed to retreat by coach Rahul Dravid and captain Hardik Pandya. The confusion led to a chaotic situation as Chahal initially headed back towards the dugout, but was prevented from doing so according to the laws of the game. He rushed back to the crease, managing to score a single off his first ball.
However, Chahal’s presence couldn’t salvage the situation as his partner, Arshdeep Singh, failed to find the boundaries and was eventually run out on the penultimate ball. Mukesh, left with the daunting task of hitting a last-ball six, could only manage a single, resulting in a four-run victory for the West Indies and a 1-0 lead in the series.
While it is uncertain if sending Mukesh ahead of Chahal would have made a significant difference, the Indian team could have better planned their batting order. The lower-order’s lack of confidence was evident throughout the match, relying heavily on Axar Patel to score the majority of the remaining runs.
The match, which seemed to be under India’s control during the 150-run chase, took a turn when Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma were dismissed. The stunning catch of Yadav by Shimron Hetmyer signaled a turbulent phase for the visitors. The situation worsened when Pandya was bowled and Sanju Samson was run out.
With 37 runs required off 24 balls and only four wickets in hand, a modern-day top T20 team would have trusted their lower-order batsmen to chase down the target. However, India’s lower-order lacks assurance in white-ball cricket. The slow nature of the pitch further challenged their chances. Although Axar managed to hit a six, he was caught out at long-on at the start of the 19th over.
In conclusion, India’s late batting blunder nearly proved costly in their match against the West Indies. The team’s lack of confidence in Chahal’s batting ability and an uncertain lower-order contributed to their failure to secure victory. With the series opener going down to the last ball, it is evident that India needs to address their batting concerns and strategize better in future matches.
