Wasim Jaffer expressed his dissatisfaction with the Windies for failing to rise to the challenge. At Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, where West Indies and India played their inaugural one-day international match, the Windies were left reeling and wondering what would become of them.
The Men in Maroon performed poorly, losing by 114 runs all out in just 23 overs. The West Indies batsmen were unable to overcome Kuldeep Yadav’s captivating 4/6 session and Ravindra Jadeja’s creativity with 3/37. In contrast, Ishan Kishan‘s magnificent half-century propelled the Men in Blue to win as they chased down the mark in 22.5 overs.
After this humiliating loss, veteran Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer noted that West Indies’ poor performance in this particular ODI is illustrative of the larger problems that have hampered their qualification for the lucrative 2023 World Cup.
He ascribed the defeat to a number of elements, notably the unpredictable quality of the surface, which occasionally helped spinners. He strongly claimed, though, that batting for the full 50 overs and getting a respectable total of 210–220 runs would have been essential in influencing the game’s outcome.
It was disappointing that they didn’t turn up. They still have problems, both in this format and generally. During a conversation on cricketmood, Jaffer stated, “I thought the pitch wasn’t ideal, it had a little bit of an up and down tempo.
You must acknowledge the other teams who played well against them: Wasim Jaffer
The former cricketer praised the other teams for their extraordinary determination against West Indies, which prevented them from making the World Cup. While complimenting Shai Hope’s excellent performance, Jaffer emphasized that the team’s overall batting quality and adaptability were lacking, particularly when a potent bowling attack was in play.
“This is perhaps why they lost in the qualifying matches to teams that aren’t plainly as good as what West Indies used to be. You must give credit to the opposing teams that played well against them, he continued.
The Windies’ captain, Hope, expressed his displeasure with the team’s sluggish batting effort and advised the players to develop smart scoring tactics on difficult surfaces. Hope acknowledged that West Indies’ batting woes, which were a key factor in their demise, were exposed in the face of the Indian bowlers’ brilliance.
The Men in Maroon, who will take on another difficult opponent in Barbados on Saturday, July 29, must reflect on and fix their weaknesses as cricket fans wait for the second ODI between West Indies and India.