Indian skipper Hardik Pandya admitted it was not a pleasing batting performance after they lost the second T20I against the West Indies by two wickets at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Sunday. The all-rounder feels the batters need to take more responsibility after they could only manage 152 runs on the board.
Pandya won the toss and decided to bat first but Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply for seven runs while trying to play across the line. Suryakumar Yadav was then run out after Kyle Mayers hit the bullseye and India could only manage 34-2 in the Powerplay overs.
India’s greenhorn batter Tilak Varma was the best batter for the visitors as he scored his maiden T20I fifty. The left-hander top-scored with 51 runs from 41 balls with the help of five fours and one six and continued to impress. However, none of the other Indian batters could get going and could not convert their starts.
Ishan Kishan scored 27 from 23 balls whereas Hardik Pandya was dismissed after scoring 24 from 18 balls. Once again it wasn’t the easiest of pitches to bat on as the track was on the slow side but the Indian batters failed to execute their plans.
On the other hand, Nicholas Pooran scored a match-winning knock of 67 runs from 40 balls despite a poor start from the home team as they were tottering at 2-2 after the first over.
Hardik Pandya said in the post-match presentation, “If am being honest that was a not a pleasing batting performance, we could have batted better. 160+ or 170 would have been a good total. The way he has been batting, becomes very difficult to rotate spinners. 2/2 and the way he batted, took the game quite into their hands.”
He added, “With the current combination we have we will have to trust out top 7 batters to come good and hope the bowlers win you games. We have to find ways to make sure we have the right balance but at the same time batters need to take more responsibility.”
Showering praise on Tilak Varma, Pandya said, “The left-hander coming at 4 gives us variety. It doesn’t feel like it’s his second international game.”
The third T20I of the series will be played at the same venue of Providence Stadium, Guyana on Tuesday.
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