India captain Shreyas Iyer has pointed to heavy dew and a batter-friendly pitch as key reasons behind the team’s defeat against the West Indies in the second T20I in Ranchi. Despite posting an impressive 249/5, India lost the match by six wickets after the visitors completed a remarkable chase with nine balls remaining.
Dew Factor Made Bowling Difficult
Iyer explained that the dew made it difficult for bowlers to maintain control, particularly on a pitch where even small mistakes could prove expensive. He said it was difficult to determine a safe total under such conditions, as the ball could travel to the boundary if bowlers missed their intended line or length.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford Turn the Match Around
West Indies captain Shai Hope led the chase with an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls. Sherfane Rutherford provided explosive support, scoring 84 off 37 deliveries.
Their 120-run partnership transformed the contest after India had made an excellent start with early wickets. Romario Shepherd then helped finish the chase as West Indies reached 250/4 in 18.3 overs.
India Post a Massive Total
India’s innings was powered by Sanju Samson, who smashed 82 runs off 33 balls. Ishan Kishan added 43, helping India build momentum during the middle overs.
Shreyas Iyer contributed a quick 40 off 18 balls, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44 off 18 deliveries. Their rapid partnership lifted India to 249/5, setting up what appeared to be a challenging chase.
Iyer Praises West Indies’ Batting
Rather than blaming individual players, Iyer acknowledged the quality of the West Indies performance. He praised Hope and Rutherford for their batting and welcomed the contributions from India’s top-order players.
The defeat highlighted how quickly momentum can shift in T20 cricket, particularly on a batting-friendly surface where dew can make defending a large total more difficult.
India Look to Bounce Back
With the five-match T20I series level at 1-1, India will aim to address their bowling challenges in the upcoming fixture. Managing conditions, executing plans under pressure and breaking dangerous partnerships early will be crucial as the team looks to regain the advantage.