Team India suffered a four-run defeat against West Indies in the first T20I on Thursday, August 3 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. The hosts went one up in the five-match T20I series. Team India skipper Hardik Pandya revealed where they lost the plot in the first T20I.
West Indies managed 149 runs in the first innings, on the back of Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell’s contributions. Pooran scored 41 runs off 34 deliveries, while Powell smashed a 32-ball 48 runs knock. Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal were the pick of the bowlers for India with two wickets each in the innings.
In response, Team India lost both their openers, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan early with 28 runs on the board. Suryakumar Yadav had a decent partnership with Tilak Varma, before getting out. Varma played a fine knock of 39 runs from 22 deliveries. After his dismissal, Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson managed a small partnership. However, a couple of quick dismissals pushed them off the track.
India was soon reduced to 144 for the loss of nine wickets. They needed six runs off the last ball with Mukesh Kumar at the crease. However, Romario Shepherd’s yorker ensured West Indies win. After the loss, Indian skipper Hardik Pandya defended his decision to chase. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he said,
“We were right to chase. We made some errors that cost us the game. A young team will make mistakes. We will learn. Good four games ahead. In T20 cricket, if you lose wickets, it becomes difficult to chase. A couple of hits can change the momentum. When we lost a couple of wickets, that halted us.”
Hardik Pandya praises debutants Mukesh Kumar and Tilak Varma
Pacer Mukesh Kumar and Tilak Varma made their T20I debut in the first match against West Indies in Trinidad. Mukesh Kumar made his debut in all three formats on the tour. Skipper Hardik Pandya praised the pacer as well as Tilak Varma, who played a good knock in his debut game. He said,
“Mukesh (Kumar) – to have this two weeks in West Indies – to make debuts in all three formats is really good. He bowled a couple of overs back to back. Tilak – very pleasing to see. There’s confidence and fearlessness. They are going to do wonders for India.”
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