Former India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged the Indian cricket team to take greater responsibility while chasing big totals after their 24-run defeat to the West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Despite Sanju Samson’s explosive half-century, India failed to chase down the visitors’ imposing total of 247/3, raising questions about the team’s approach in high-pressure run chases.
Speaking on JioStar, Sunil Gavaskar stressed that India’s batting unit must improve its decision-making and take more ownership if the team wants to maintain its winning momentum.
“The first thing this Indian side needs to improve is how they chase. The batting unit needs to show more responsibility. If the batters don’t take responsibility, this Indian side will not succeed,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
He also pointed out that the conditions, including the presence of dew, should have helped India dominate with the bat. However, the hosts failed to capitalise on the favourable circumstances.
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“On a pitch like this, with the dew coming in, you have to show the kind of dominance with the bat that a back-to-back T20 World Cup-winning team should, but that was missing completely in this game,” he added.
India began the chase aggressively, with Samson reaching his half-century in just 20 deliveries. However, West Indies pacer Keemo Paul changed the course of the innings in the fifth over, dismissing Samson and Ishan Kishan in quick succession. Samson was caught by Shimron Hetmyer, while Kishan departed for just six, leaving India at 69/2.
Shreyas Iyer attempted to steady the innings but managed only 16 off 11 balls before falling to Shamar Springer. Abhishek Sharma contributed 29 off 24 deliveries but failed to convert his start into a substantial score. Gudakesh Motie then dealt India another major blow, removing Abhishek and Naman Dhir in the 12th over. Motie’s figures of 2/13 left India struggling at 132/5.
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Although Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy launched a counterattack to revive India’s hopes, the West Indies bowlers maintained their composure. Keemo Paul’s five-wicket haul proved decisive, restricting India to 223 and securing a 24-run victory. The result levelled the five-match T20I series at 2-2, setting up a series decider in Bengaluru. India will need a more disciplined approach to chasing targets if they are to clinch the series.
