The T20 series between India and the West Indies produced a fair result, with the contest living up to expectations of being closely fought. Before the series, I expected it to be competitive, and for the West Indies, much depended on their powerful middle-order batting lineup and the contributions of their key players.
Shai Hope, in particular, was outstanding. His performances throughout the tour were remarkable, especially considering the inconsistency that often characterises T20 cricket. The way he maintained his consistency across the series was exceptional and could potentially put him in line for some big IPL deals in the future.
The partnership between Shai Hope and Darren Sammy, as captain and coach, is also worth examining. I have been a big admirer of Sammy, not only as a player but also as a leader, and he is clearly doing an excellent job. Sammy has said that West Indies cricket has got its its swagger. He would have played a substantial role in encouraging the players and giving them the intent to compete against a strong opposition. The management structure deserves considerable credit for the way the team has performed.
The fact that the West Indies have achieved this without someone like Nicholas Pooran, who does not play international cricket anymore, is a real reflection of the talent that remains in West Indies cricket. Following their T20 World Cup semi-final appearance and the home series win against Sri Lanka, I hope the team can build on these performances and continue to progress.
However, the West Indies bowling attack still requires considerable attention. It lacks variety, genuine pace and mystery spin. I was pleased to see Gudakesh Motie return to the side during the series, but there is still work to be done in strengthening the bowling lineup.
In the short term, the West Indies look well placed ahead of the World Cup, given the way they are playing in this format. Their long-term future, however, is linked to achieving financial stability. While that is not something that can be addressed immediately, I hope their performances in this series will help encourage greater financial stability for the team and West Indies cricket as a whole. World cricket needs the West Indies to play this way, because the game becomes a better product when they perform at this level. I am pleased with what they have achieved and hope they can build on it.
As far as India are concerned, there is no reason for major concern. The bowling lineup appeared experimental, with Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav featuring, while Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya were absent. Kuldeep Yadav was in and out of the side, and Arshdeep Singh was not at his best. India’s bowling attack was therefore not operating at its strongest, and the series should be viewed as an opportunity for players rather than a reason to panic.
Another issue worth highlighting is the nature of the pitches. Some of the surfaces have been so flat that they have made life difficult for bowlers. This is a longer-term issue that the ICC and cricket administrators need to examine. Bowlers cannot simply be expected to operate like bowling machines, match after match. There needs to be more assistance from the pitch or the air to provide them with something to work with. The series was somewhat batter-dominated, but that should not take away from the West Indies’ achievements. It was an entertaining contest.
For India, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s bowling remains a work in progress, particularly in the absence of Pandya. Developing his bowling skills is crucial for both the player and the team. I have no doubts about his batting
ability and believe he will add considerable value with the bat, but his bowling needs to continue improving.
I also believe Kuldeep should always be in the side and am surprised whenever he is left out. Varun Chakaravarthy was another player not involved in the series. But even when these absent bowlers are part of the squad, India do not always play with their full frontline bowling attack. That is another reason not to be overly concerned about the results.
I like Mayank Yadav and believe India should persist with him, giving him more opportunities to develop and establish himself.
Shreyas Iyer has also had a very good three weeks, considering the amount of T20 cricket he has played and the captaincy responsibilities he has handled. His century was a standout performance. Moving forward, I believe it is important for Indian cricket that Iyer is recognised as a leader in this format and that the dressing room sees him in that role. His performances over the past three weeks would have significantly strengthened his position in that regard.
India are also navigating a challenging period because of the amount of cricket on their schedule. They have ODI and T20 squads to select, Test series coming up, and players moving between different squads and formats. Managing all of this is difficult. Alongside the technical aspects of the game, mental freshness is equally important. Indian cricket must continually work to create an environment in which players are mentally ready to perform every time an opportunity comes their way.
On the positive side, Naman Dhir was excellent. I read an article in which R Ashwin spoke highly about him, and there is hardly anyone better placed to assess his bowling. Ashwin was impressed, and I was too. Dhir offers a good balance through his batting and bowling. Although he has not always been a regular bowler, he gives India another option, though there remains a question over whether he can provide that option without being expensive.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar being called into the squad at the last minute was also a good story, even though he did not play. Having worked on the IPL for many years, I have always regarded him as the best bowler, particularly over the last few years. He has consistently stood out because of his variety and his ability to handle the situation in front of him. His bowling acumen and intent are excellent, and I believe he can remain a valuable asset for India. His potential contribution in big matches should not be discounted, and it will be interesting to see how he performs if he gets an opportunity.
When assessing India’s T20 setup, the discussion eventually returns to the top of the batting order. I am going to remain stubborn and continue backing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. I was surprised that he did not play in the series, and I still believe India need to address that question.
There are clearly several selection issues that India must resolve, but there is no reason to panic. India entered the series as favourites, yet the West Indies deserve significant credit for the way they performed, particularly towards the end of the ODI series and throughout the T20 contest.
The experience of playing in Indian conditions and participating in the IPL would also have helped several West Indies players. That experience would undoubtedly have influenced how they adapted to the conditions and how the series unfolded.
Overall, it was an entertaining and enjoyable series, and one that was worth following.
