"It is good to lose at times," says Hardik Pandya after India lose T20I series 2-3 to West Indies

Hardik Pandya-led Indian team lost the five-match T20I series 2-3 to West Indies.

In a thrilling showdown that held the fate of the series, India clashed with West Indies in the decisive 5th T20I match at Central Broward Park. The stakes were high as both teams aimed to claim the series. After winning the toss, India elected to bat first, maintaining the same lineup that had played in the previous T20I encounter.

The Indian batsmen faced a challenging battle as West Indies bowlers came charging in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill started cautiously but found themselves dismissed early by the skillful bowling of Akeal Hosein. Suryakumar Yadav emerged as the backbone of India’s innings, crafting a masterful 61 runs from 45 deliveries, including 4 boundaries and 3 sixes.

While Tilak Varma contributed a swift 27 off 18 balls, the Indian batting order faced consistent resistance from the West Indies bowlers. Romario Shepherd, in particular, shone brightly, securing 4 crucial wickets for 31 runs. In the end, India posted a total of 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs, setting the stage for a thrilling second innings where the West Indies would aim to chase down the target and claim the series victory.

West Indies successfully chased a target of 166, reaching it in 18 overs with 2 overs to spare. They won the series by winning the first two matches but later lost two. They staged a comeback and clinched the series. In their innings, West Indies scored 171-2, with Brandon King and Nicholas Pooran contributing significantly.

‘We lost the momentum when I came in and couldn’t capitalize on the situation’-Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya reflected on losing momentum during his innings but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to challenge themselves and improve.

“We lost the momentum when I came in and couldn’t capitalize on the situation. I believe we gonna challenge ourselves. We try to get better. In hindsight, it is fine. We don’t need to explain much. I know how the boys are within the group. We have enough time to figure out. Losing is good at times. On the positive side, we have done a lot of learnings. The boys showed character. Credit to them.” said the Indian captain.

He also spoke about learning from losses, praised the team’s character and adaptability, and he also anticipates a strong showing in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Adding to his previous statement, the Indian captain said:

“They kept coming and tried something new. It is part of the process. It is what I feel at that moment. If I see a situation, I generally prefer something that comes to mind. No rocket science, just my gut feel. Every youngster who is coming in, is showing character. I can’t be more happy when I see a youngster comes in and puts his hand up. A big thank you to everyone. The T20 World Cup would be here. There would be bigger numbers then.”

‘Our plans were good’- Rovman Powell

Rovman Powell struggled to convey the significance of the win, praising the Caribbean fans’ longing for success. He credited coaching, highlighted their resilient response after a loss, and valued individual performances for the team’s benefit.

“It is difficult to put words. Even adjectives are difficult to be put here. There was a lot at stake. We sat down and had a meeting last evening. The people in caribbean were longing for something nice. Credit to the coaching side. We could have easily panicked after the loss. Our plans were good. I am very big on individual performances. If one can perform, the team will benefit.” said Powell.

Powell acknowledged Pooran’s key role and fans’ support, boosting motivation on and off the field.

“Nicholas Pooran is a big player for us, we asked him to come through for us in at least three of the five games and he did. Nobody can come good in every game so we asked him to try and stand up in three games. Credit to the bowling unit that they controlled this powerful batting line up from India. A lot of credit has to go to the fans. When the chips were down, they have supported us. It keeps us motivated, to see the fans supporting us, not only physically but also on social media. Thanks to everyone for supporting us.” he added.

Romario Shepherd, Player of the Match

Romario Shephard won the Player of the Match in the series decider with an exceptional performance with the ball. In his four overs he picked up four wickets with an economy of 7.80. He expressed his joy for being on the winning side and acknowledged Pooran and the team. He highlighted his strong recent bowling form and emphasized the significance of the wicket-taking strategy. Shepherd’s comments reflect resilience after challenging times in the past months.

“Makes me feel happy. We ended up on the winning side. Thanks to Pooran and team. From the ODIs to now, I have been bowling well. The best so far I feel. Especially, the plan was to take wickets. Means a lot to us. We have been through hard times in the last few months.” said the West Indian fast bowler.

While Nicholas Pooran earned the Player of the Series with scoring 47 in the final T20I an a total of 176 runs in the whole series.

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