The second T20I of the five-match series between West Indies and India witnessed a nail-biting contest at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday. The hosts ended up claiming a thrilling win to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Batting first Team India posted a total of 152/7 in their allotted 20 overs. India’s innings saw a mix of contributions from their top-order batters. Ishan Kishan showed some promising form, scoring 27 runs off 23 balls, including 2 fours and 2 sixes. Tilak Varma emerged as the highest scorer for India, playing a commendable knock of 51ꦛ runs off 41 balls, comprising 5 fours and 1 six. However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to make significant impacts as West Indies bow꧒lers kept them under check.
For the hosts, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph showcase🔥d an impressive bowling performance, each claiming two wickets and conceding 29 and 28 runs respectively. Romario Shepherd also made an impact with two wickets, giving away 28 runs.
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Fans slam Hardik Pandya over his captaincy
Chasing a target of 153, the Caribbeans faced early hiccups with some quick dismissals in the top order. Nicholas Pooran emerged as the standout performer, blasting a sensational 67 runs off just 40 deliveries, smashing 6 fours and 4 sixes. Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer chipped in with crucial contributions of 21 and 2🅘2 runs♍ respectively.
Hardik Pandya performed well with the bowl, registering a brilliant spell of 3 wickets for 35 runs in his four overs. Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal also managed to pick up crucial wicket🔯s to keep the pressure on the West Indies batsmen.
Fans on social media heavily criticized Hardik’s captaincy following India’s loss. Despite Chahal’s crucial dismissals of Jason Holder (0) and Hetmyer (22), which brought India back into contention, Pandya’s decision-making came under scrutiny. With 24 runs still needed, Pandya chose not to rely on Chahal’s bowling, instead opting for pacers Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar. Surprisingly, Axar Patel was not given a chance to bowl, while Ravi Bishnoi‘s four overs proved expensive, conceding 31 runs.
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In the end, West Indies managed to achieve the target, thanks to a resilient batting display from Akeal, who scored 16 runs off 10 balls, an♛d Joseph, who provided valuable support with 10 runs off 8 ball✨s, including a crucial six.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Back to back wins!🔥
WI win and go 2-0 in the series!
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket)
You gave it your all, champ. 🤗💗
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals)
Tough being Yuzi Chahal. He got you back in the game with a double-wicket over, with Windies down on their knees, and somehow the skipper took him off the attack. And India lost.
Go figure— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73)
Before today's win West Indies had never won back to back T20s against India
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
India go 2-0 down in the five-match series:
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
India vs West Indies in this series:
Won matches of India – 3
Won matches of West indies – 3
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
So West Indies tailenderܫs are better batters than Indian tailenders?!
This tour has been a revelation in🦩 every possible way.
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula)
West Indies take a 2-0 🍬lead after a thrilli꧅ng climax 💪 | 📝:
— ICC (@ICC)
Hardik Pandya: "I was saving Yuzvendra Chahal's 1 over for the Super Over".
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
First time since 2011, West Indies won back-to-back men's international matches against India.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
Atleast Rohit Sharma used to win Bilateral Series, but here we can't win against Minnows West Indies!
Hardik pandya can't match Rohit Sharma's level!!
Bring Back ROHIT SHARMA!
— ᴘʀᴀᴛʜᴍᴇsʜ⁴⁵ (@45Fan_Prathmesh)
When Chahal was bow🦩🌟ling well, Hardik Pandya stopped him and brought Mukesh Kumar.
This guy came to replace Rohit Sharma and lost ba🎃ck to back matches against West Indies. 🫣🫣
— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns)
History:-
Hardik Pandya became the first ever Indian Captain to los🐟e 2 matches in a series against West Indies!
"It's OK to be Unique"
— Aryan 45 🇮🇳 (@Iconic_Rohit)
Yuzi chahal in 16th Over 2 wickets one run and a runout.
And guess what Hardik Pandya didn’t give him the next over.
Hardik pandya the captain for you— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss)
Poor captaincy by Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chah🅠al should have bowled over no. 18👎
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta)
Reporter – India haven't lost back to back T20Is against West Indies in a bilateral series. You don't want to be the captain to break the trend?
Hardik Pandya – "it's okay to be unique".
— Utsav 💔 (@utsav__45)
