Former Indian batter Abhinav Mukund said that Indian batters will be a lot more confident of hitting sixes in the fifth T20I against the West Indies due to the smaller ground size in Bengaluru as well. However, the West Indies outplayed India in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad to level the five-match series 2-2 as well. While the visitors struck 16 sixes, India managed 13.

During a discussion on Cricinfo, Mukund stated: “I think the concept of this has come about because the [West Indies] middle order has been so prolific in hitting those sixes. And apart from Lucknow, I don’t think there is a big difference in any of the other boundaries. It does nullify it just a touch. And it also gives an advantage to India’s batters. Because a couple of them were caught out in the boundary in Hyderabad. Sanju Samson, for example. Ishan Kishan, for example. Those are sixes in Bengaluru.”

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During the discussion, Mukund also asked Indian batters to be a lot more assertive when it came to hitting sixes in the fifth match in Bengaluru. He also shared that Indian batters know the ground very well and should look to take advantage of the
same.

He concluded: “West Indies will be fancying their chances at a much smaller venue. But I think India should also take a cue and say, ‘let’s also showcase our power and the potential we have to hit sixes because this is a ground that we know better and we should hit a lot more sixes’. So, they should go a notch higher in their strike rate and try and see if they can hit more sixes.”