India faced a narrow defeat against West Indies in a thrilling contest at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Tarouba on August 3. The hosts secured a 4-run win, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. Despite having the match in control at one stage, India let it slip away with a series of crucial mistakes. With 37 runs needed in 30 balls and Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya at the crease, India appeared to be in a good position.
However, Pandya’s dismissal at 19 and Samson’s unfortunate run-out due to a brilliant direct hit by Kyle Mayers turned the game in favor of the Windies. India could only manage 145/9 in their 200th T20I, falling short of the target set by West Indies at 149/6.
Debutant Tilak Varma was the highest scorer for India with an impressive 39 runs, while Mukesh Kumar, also making his T20I debut, showed promise with his performance. However, the Windies displayed better composure in crucial moments, ultimately clinching the victory.
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Indian captain Hardik Pandya admitted the disappointment of the loss but emphasized that the young team is bound to make mistakes and is eager to learn from them. He acknowledged that losing wickets at regular intervals and the lack of partnerships hindered their chase.
West Indies win the first #WIvIND T20I.#TeamIndia will look to bounce back in the second T20I in Guyana. 👍 👍
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/AU7RtGPkYP pic.twitter.com/b36y5bevoO
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 3, 2023
“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,” said Hardik Pandya. He also explained the decision to play three spinners, stating that it was a strategic move to give opportunities to the two wrist spinners.
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Pandya praised the debutants, Mukesh Kumar and Tilak Varma, expressing confidence in their abilities. He commended Mukesh’s impressive performances across all three formats during his time in the West Indies and lauded Tilak’s confidence and fearlessness, predicting that both players will contribute significantly to Indian cricket.
Despite the initial setback, India remains optimistic about the series, with Hardik Pandya assuring that the young team will learn from their errors and put up a strong fight in the remaining four matches.
