West Indies stormed back into the five-match T20I series against India with a six-wicket win on Friday in Ranchi. Batting first, the hosts posted a massive 249 on the board, which the visitors overhauled with ease in the 19th over. Skipper Shai Hope was named Player of the Match for his knock of 102 not out off 45 balls with six boundaries and nine sixes.

Former India player Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t pleased with the Men in Blue’s bowling. Every bowler was expensive and couldn’t contain the run-flow.

“I felt India would score somewhere close to 240, and they went nine runs ahead. The batters aren’t to be blamed here. I don’t think the team fell short. Bowlers didn’t bowl the way they were supposed to. One has to ask the bowling coach what expectations he had from these bowlers and whether they fulfilled them or not.”

Varun Aaron also seemed to agree with the 77-year-old’s views. “Giving Axar Patel the fourth over in the powerplay wasn’t needed because you had two batters, Hope and Powell, who are jittery against the new ball, and should have bowled four overs with pace.” Axar Patel bowled 3.3 overs and went for 63 runs without claiming a wicket.

Mayank Yadav started well as he bowled three straight overs in the powerplay and claimed three wickets for 36 runs.

He first got the wicket of Kamil Pooran, who was caught by Ravi Bishnoi for four. Shimron Hetmyer was beaten for pace and was sent back for a golden duck. Yadav got his third wicket when a 150 kph snorter flattened Rovman Powell’s off-stump for 24.

Hope was joined by Sherfane Rutherfordand the pair then went after the bowling and added 120 runs for the fourth wicket in nine overs.

Rutherford could have been out on the final ball of the tenth over if Mayank had held onto a catch of Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling. The southpaw made full use of that life to score 37-ball 84 with seven boundaries and seven sixes.

West Indies captain sheds light on approach after huge win

Visiting skipper was asked about his mindset with the team losing two wickets for five runs. “It was always going to be a challenge and a tough chase, but you always give yourself a chance when chasing in Indian conditions.

You are always in the game, regardless of what score you have on the board.”

He also added, “When we got the partnership, Powell got some impetus back into the innings. Rutherford then came to bat and batted well to give us the spark that was needed to cross the line.”