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Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, Team India had a somewhat lackluster beginning to the five-match T20I series, missing a significant opportunity to secure victory and establish an early advantage in the series. However, they allowed this favourable opportunity to slip through their grasp. In contrast, West Indies effectively capitalized on the chances presented to them, ultimately emerging victorious in the clash held at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. This triumph for the Caribbeans came by a narrow margin of 4 runs, allowing them to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Opting to bat first, West Indies managed to put up a total of 149/6 within their allocated 20 overs. Rovman Powell stood out with an exemplary performance, contributing 48 runs off 32 deliveries. His innings was marked by the execution of three fours and three sixes. On the bowling front, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh exhibited their prowess by each securing 2 wickets, playing a vital role in curtailing the home side batting lineup.
In response, India’s pursuit of the target fell short, culminating in a final score of 145 for the loss of 9 wickets. Notably, Tilak Varma was the standout performer for India’s batting side, delivering a notable contribution of 39 runs from 22 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer shared his insights regarding the apparent lack of depth in the batting order of the team. The veteran cricketer specifically pointed out that Kuldeep Yadav might not be the most suitable candidate for the No. 8 batting position. He emphasized that the Indian lower-order batters appear to lack the ability to consistently hit sixes with ease.
Jaffer’s concern about a potential vulnerability in India’s lower-order batting arsenal
During a discussion with ESPNCricinfo in the post-match show, Jaffer highlighted a primary concern for India in the batting department, particularly in the context of the shorter format of the game. The 45-year-old mentioned that many other international teams would likely have managed to score an additional 20 runs with four wickets still remaining.
“No. 8, 9, 10, and 11, who don’t have six-hitting ability or even boundary-hitting ability, even though Arshdeep hit a couple of boundaries, which surprised me. But they don’t have a boundary-hitting ability. So that’s a concern when you play in this format,” Jaffer was quoted as saying by the ESPNCricninfo.
“If England, Australia, or even the West Indies or New Zealand were playing, you would back them to get those runs. Two overs 20 with four wickets left, you would back them to win it,” the Mumbai-born cricketer added.
Axar Patel contributed 13 runs from 11 balls before getting dismissed on the first ball of the 19th over, with the team requiring 21 runs for victory. Arshdeep played a valuable role by hitting two boundaries and scoring 12 runs from just seven balls, which brought the team closer to the target.
Jaffer advocates for precision in India’s team composition ahead of next fixture
The former Indian opener said that India should find the right combination for the next match, highlighting that Kuldeep isn’t the right choice to bat at No. 8
“India is not strong in that department. And that’s where the balance needs to be right. You played two spinners, and then one batter doesn’t play. And then Axar plays and he doesn’t finish his quota of overs. So there are a lot of things that you have to look in when you make the combination, but Kuldeep coming in at 8 is not the answer,” Jaffer concluded.
Team India went into the first T20I with both wrist-spinners Chahal and Kuldeep, while left-arm spinner Axar was the all-rounder.
After a close loss in the initial T20I, Indian team will be eager to bounce back in the series as they face the West Indies in the second fixture at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday (August 6).
