Former Indian opener Abhinav Mukund believes the West Indies’ superior six-hitting ability was the major defining factor in India’s 24-run loss in the fourth T20I against the West Indies. The visitors posted an above-par score of 247 runs on the board after Shai Hope scored an impressive knock of 102 runs off 50 balls, including nine sixes.
Overall, the Windies batters smashed a total of 16 sixes in their batting innings after they were put into bat by Shreyas Iyer. India, on the other hand, scored a total of 13 maximums in the penultimate game of the series. The hosts were restricted to 223-9 in 19.3 overs as Arshdeep Singh was forced to retire hurt.
Abhinav Mukund said on Cricinfo, “I firmly believe that sixes win you games, especially in this particular format. You can discuss lots of moments in the game. For me, the defining number was 160 runs in boundaries [for WI] versus India’s 138. India were three sixes and one four lesser than the West Indies.
“India got those few sixes in the end, but the West Indies are hitting more in the middle overs, which goes to tell you that the power game still exists in this format, no matter the size of the ground and the pitches that are on display,” the 36-year-old went on to add.
Mukund admitted the West Indies batters have outhit the Indian batters as the hosts have shown a bit of hesitancy in their shot-making.
He concluded, “Shai Hope got five sixes in the powerplay. I think this is a series where the West Indies have really outhit India. And I firmly believe that India do have the potential, do have the power to do it. It’s just that there is a little bit of hesitancy sometimes in terms of starting off.”
The fifth and final match of the series between India and the West Indies will be played at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Saturday.
