Indian skipper Hardik Pandya was delighted after they won the third T20I against the West Indies by seven wickets at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Tuesday. India was down by 2-0 in the series and Pandya said they had to show they are ready when it comes to such must-win games.
The visitors restricted the Windies to 159-5 after the hosts’ skipper Rovman Powell decided to bat first. Kuldeep Yadav, returning to the team’s playing XI, was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors. Yadav had figures of 3-28 in his quota of four overs, including two wickets of in-form Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King in the same over. Yadav also became the second-fastest to 50 T20I wickets after Ajantha Mendis (considering top 10 teams).
On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav played a match-winning knock of 83 runs off just 44 balls as he once again showed his all-round game. Yadav smashed 10 fours and four sixes in his blistering knock as he took the Windies bowlers to the cleaners.
Yadav smashed a four and a six on the first two balls he faced and it was just a harbinger that carnage was to follow. The right-hander added a fine alliance of 87 runs with greenhorn batter Tilak Varma, who continued to impress, scoring an unbeaten 49 in the run-chase of 160.
In fact, India had their backs against the wall after losing the first two matches as they could not come up with a good batting show. However, Yadav and Varma did the job for the visitors in the must-win game.
Hardik Pandya said in the post-match presentation, “Very important (to win). We spoke as a group that these three games will be exciting. Two losses or two wins does not change the long term plans. We have to show we are ready when it comes to such (must-win) games.”
Pandya added that Pooran coming out to bat at number four allowed him to bowl out Axar Patel, who had figures of 1-24 in his allotted four overs.
He added, “Nicky (Pooran) didn’t come out to bat and that allowed us to keep our pacers back, also allowed Axar to bowl his four overs. If Nicky wants to hit, let him hit me and that was the plan, I enjoy such competition. I know he is going to hear this and will come hard at me in the fourth T20I.
He concluded, “As a group, we have decided to bat with seven batters and we have to take responsibility, like it happened today if the batters score runs then you don’t need someone at number eight. As Surya mentioned, they (SKY and Tilak) play together and spend time together, good to have someone like SKY in the team and when he takes responsibility it sends a message to the others.”
The fourth T20I between these two teams will be played on Saturday at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida.
