Indian skipper Hardik Pandya admitted they made some errors that cost them the opening T20I against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad on Tuesday. India suffered a four-run loss after they failed to chase down 150 runs against the hosts.
The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals and it made it difficult for them in the end. Indian bowlers did a decent job in restricting the West Indies to 149-6 after Rovman Powell won the toss and decided to bat first.
Powell top-scored with 48 runs for the Windies whereas Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh bagged two wickets apiece. In fact, Powell was meandering at one stage with a run-a-ball 20 but changed gears after he was given a second life by Yuzvendra Chahal.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan were dismissed cheaply and India managed 45-2 in the Powerplay overs. Tilak Varma impressed on his debut as he smashed two sixes on the first three balls he faced whereas SKY scored a run-a-ball 21.
The Mumbai Indians duo added 39 runs before SKY was dismissed. Varma also could not carry on the good show as he was dismissed on a short-pitched delivery. The 16th over bowled by Holder was the game-changer as Hardik Pandya was done by a slower ball while Sanju Samson was run out. Furthermore, it was a maiden from Holder, who finished with figures of 2-19 and bagged the Player of the Match award.
Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh gave a glimmer of hope to the tourists with a couple of late strikes but it was too late by then as Romario Shepherd defended 10 runs in the final over.
Hardik Pandya said in the post-match presentation, “We were right to chase. We made some errors that cost us the game. A young team will make mistakes. We will learn. Good four games ahead. 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.”
Pandya also lauded the two debutants, Mukesh Kumar and Tilak Varma. Kumar went wicketless but nailed his yorkers in the death overs whereas Varma top-scored for the team with 39 off 22 balls.
Pandya said, “Mukesh (Kumar) – to have this two weeks in West Indies – to make debuts in all three formats is really good. He bowled a couple of overs back to back. Tilak – very pleasing to see. There’s confidence and fearlessness. They are going to do wonders for India.”
The second T20I between India and the West Indies will be played in Guyana on Sunday.
