India produced a brilliant performance with both, bat and ball to outclass the West Indies in the fifth and final T20I, clinching an 88-run victory. The Indian team, led by Hardik Pandya and missing a number of first-teamers including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja, put up a strong score of 188/7 in 20 overs before bowling out a hapless Windies side on 100. It was a combined effort from the bowlers as the spin trio of Axar Patel (3/15), Ravi Bishnoi (4/16), and Kuldeep Yadav (3/12) picked all 10 wickets.
However, despite such a strong performance, former India star Pragyan Ojha expressed his displeasure at one of the player's way of dismissal in the game. India's Dinesh Karthik was deceived by a slower ball from Odean Smith, as he went for a reverse sweep a bit too early. It was a low full toss and Karthik missed the line, and was hit on the pad. The umpire had no hesitation in adjudging the Indian batter out.
Following his dismissal, Ojha stated that there was no need to play such a shot when easy runs were available with playing with a straight bat.
{{/usCountry}}Following his dismissal, Ojha stated that there was no need to play such a shot when easy runs were available with playing with a straight bat.
{{/usCountry}}“It is not as if you can't score runs easily. When you are getting runs at the front, when you can score with a straight bat, why do you have to try something like this? It was such a good chance for him. I think he will be very unhappy with himself after that shot,” Ojha said in the mid-match show on FanCode.
India clinched a 4-1 series victory in the T20Is, and the team will return to action on August 18 when it locks horn in the three-ODI series against Zimbabwe. Karthik, meanwhile, is likely to return to international action in the Asia Cup 2022, which begins on August 27.