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Tilak Varma lone bright spot as Nicholas Pooran-led Windies land another blow
India’s poor batting once again cost them the game as they lost the second T20 to go 0-2 down in the five-match series
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bowled a superb 16th over to provide a late twist to India’s second T20I game against West Indies played at the Providence Stadium, Guyana.
Chasing a target of 153, West Indies were coasting in the 14th over with Nichloas Pooran blazing away. Even when Mukesh Kumar got the breakthrough by having the left-hander (67 -- 39b) caught at cover point, there didn’t seem much hope for India. West Indies needed just 27 off 36 balls with five wickets in hand. In what should have been an easy win, they committed hara-kiri to be reduced to 128/8. Romario Shepherd (run out), Jason Holder and Shimron Hetmyer all fell in the 16th over. The equation was down to 24 off 24 balls.
Alazarri Joseph and Akeal Hosein kept their nerves to see the team home, Windies reaching 155/8 with seven balls left to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
BATTING STRUUGLE
Chahal's fightback however can’t mask another below-par batting show by India. At a time when even Test cricket is influenced by T20 style batting, India’s performance against West Indies makes for strange viewing with their batters struggling to get going.
India have the best T20 league and are world No.1, but it doesn’t count for much if performances are not up to expectations at the ICC World Cup.
To make amends for the disappointment at the last two T20 World Cups, it is important for the young side led by Hardik Pandya to do well in this series because the 2024 edition is also going to be held in the Caribbean.
From their batting in the first two T20Is, playing in Caribbean conditions will need some adapting to. On Sunday at Guyana’s Providence Stadium, India huffed and puffed to 152/7 after electing to bat.
Playing a fearless brand of cricket that brings runs and success in IPL may not work at the next World Cup. A change in game plan needs to be considered. In tough conditions for strokeplay on pitches where the ball is gripping, building an innings could offer better rewards than hitting from the start.
VARMA FIFTY
The young Tilak Varma was the lone warrior. Following his 22-ball 39 on debut, he hit his maiden half-century. The sparking 51 (41b 5x4 1x6) all but cements his place in the T20 side. The best examination of a player’s calibre is when everyone else is finding the going tough. Like in Trinidad, the 20-year-old looked at ease though the Windies bowlers gave a fine exhibition.
West Indies pacers did the job well again. Obed McCoy was superb with the new ball, Joseph was sharp while Jason Holder and Shepherd kept the batters on a leash with clever change-ups. Akeal Hosein as the lone spinner and did a fine job with the big wickets of Varma and Sanju Samson.
POWERPLAY WASTED
India were banking on their top-order to capitalise against the new ball. But in another mediocre powerplay effort, they were 34/2 in six overs. In that phase, the nine runs they picked off Holder in the fifth over was their best. India were reduced to 18/2 in 3.3 overs. Shubman Gill was caught off Alzarri Joseph after hitting a six before Yadav was run out.
In contrast, West Indies were superb in the powerplay. They lost two wickets in the first over and a third in the fourth. But it didn’t matter. Nicholas Pooran batted without a care as 18 runs were plundered from the final PP over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi. Pooran hit the leg-spinner for three fours and a six to race to 42 off 22 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes). His fifty was reached in 29 balls.
NO FINAL PUSH
There was no respite even with the introduction of their second-string bowlers. At the end of 10 overs, India's total was 65/3 while West Indies were 91. Though the hosts were four down, the equation was 62 off 60 balls.
After 15 overs, Hardik Pandya’s side were 106/4. India’s hopes of getting to a competitive total now rested on how they batted in the last five overs. Their plan suffered a setback when the well-set Varma holed out in the 16th over. Pandya hit a couple of lusty blows but was cleaned up on the last ball of the 18th over by Joseph. Only a four and a six by tailenders Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi helped India cross 150.
