India’s Middle-Order Collapse Leads to Defeat as West Indies Level ODI Series
The Indian cricket team suffered a disappointing defeat as their middle-order collapsed, resulting in a comfortable six-wicket victory for the West Indies. This win helped the West Indies level the three-match ODI series. The Indian batsmen struggled to cope with the pace, bounce, and turn on a challenging track, getting all-out for a meager total of 181 runs in 40.5 overs.
The decision of the Indian team management to rest skipper Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli backfired as the middle-order failed to deliver. The absence of their two key players left a significant void in the batting line-up. The lack of experience and resilience in the middle order became evident as the Indian batsmen couldn’t handle the West Indies’ bowling attack.
After a promising opening stand of 90 runs between Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill, India suffered a dramatic collapse, losing five wickets for just 23 runs in a span of 7.2 overs. This sudden fall of wickets shattered India’s chances of setting a competitive total. The decision by the West Indies skipper, Shai Hope, to bowl first paid off as his bowlers exploited the conditions and made life difficult for the Indian batsmen.
The rationale behind resting Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, especially with only ten months remaining before the World Cup, came under scrutiny. The failure of the middle-order batsmen raised more questions than answers regarding India’s batting depth and stability. The rain delays during the match didn’t deter the West Indies bowlers, who maintained their intensity throughout the game.
Despite the disappointing performance of the Indian middle-order, Ishan Kishan showcased his potential as a second wicket-keeper and solidified his case for selection. However, the same couldn’t be said for Sanju Samson and Axar Patel, who struggled against the short-ball tactics employed by the West Indies pacers and the spinners’ grip, turn, and bounce.
Similar to the first ODI, the pitch at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown had plenty of spice, and the West Indies bowlers effectively used it to their advantage. Shardul Thakur did provide some resistance with three crucial wickets, but it wasn’t enough to guide India to a defendable target.
In their pursuit of 182 runs, the West Indies faced some initial challenges from the Indian bowlers, particularly Shardul Thakur, who bowled a lively spell. However, the West Indies captain, Shai Hope, remained unbeaten on 63 runs, providing stability to the innings. Supported by Keacy Carty’s unbeaten knock of 48 runs, they forged an unbeaten partnership of 91 runs for the fifth wicket, securing victory for the West Indies in just 36.4 overs. This win ended their streak of nine successive bilateral defeats since December 2019.
In conclusion, India’s middle-order collapse proved to be their undoing in the second ODI against the West Indies. The inadequate performance of the middle-order batsmen, combined with exceptional bowling efforts from Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie, led to India’s defeat and the West Indies leveling the series. The Indian team management’s decision to rest key players backfired, and it remains to be seen how they will address the issues in their middle-order going forward.
