Xtra Time Web Desk: Hardik Pandya led India lost to West Indies by 4 runs in the 200th T20 International match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Thursday. West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
India’s innings got off to a poor start, with the openers struggling against the Windies’ bowlers. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan were dismissed early, but debutant Tilak Varma provided some momentum with impressive hitting, scoring 39 off 22 balls. Suryakumar Yadav also contributed 21 runs, but his dismissal affected India’s progress. Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Axar Patel couldn’t sustain their innings, and India fell short of the target.
West Indies posted a total of 149 for six, led by Rovman Powell’s well-played 48 runs and Nicholas Pooran’s aggressive 41 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal’s two-wicket haul provided some resistance, but the West Indies’ batting performance was steady.
The Indian pace duo struggled to create pressure in the powerplay, and Hardik Pandya introduced spin early on. Brandon King and Kyle Myers fell victim to Chahal’s spin. Despite Pooran’s aggressive start, the West Indies’ scoring rate slowed down towards the end of their innings.
In the final stages, Arshdeep Singh’s efforts with both bat and ball were notable, but his team fell short in the chase. The West Indies’ composed performance secured them a vital win in the series opener.