West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss in an exciting T20I match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. The game was the first in a five-match series versus India, and the audience was anticipating a thrilling match.
The West Indies‘ batting innings got off to a strong start, finishing their 20 overs at 149-6 and giving India a target of 150 runs to pursue. With 41 runs off 34 deliveries, two fours, and two sixes, Nicholas Pooran showed off his talent.
Rovman Powell, the team’s captain, scored 48 runs off 32 balls, including three boundaries and three sixes, for a brilliant knock. With 28 runs off 19 deliveries, Brandon King also made a significant impact.
India’s bowlers put up a valiant fight to limit West Indies’ scoring. Each of Arshdeep and Chahal collected two wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Captain Hardik Pandya each took one.
With Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill returning to the pavilion after scoring just 28 runs combined, India’s top order experienced an early setback when chasing the mark. However, Surya Kumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, a rookie, formed a solid partnership to control the innings.
Unfortunately, Hardik Pandya and Samson’s dismissals during a crucial wicket-first over from Jason Holder caused India’s middle order to crumble. From that point forward, the match’s momentum changed in West Indies’ favour, and in the end, West Indies triumphed by four runs.
Tilak Varma, who made his debut for India, scored 39 runs, and Surya Kumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya each added 21 and 19 runs. Arshdeep Singh’s powerful smashes in the last overs offered India a slim hope, but Romario Shepherd’s outstanding final over gave West Indies the victory as they won the first T20I match of the series. Shepherd, Jason Holder, and Obed McCoy all claimed two wickets, and Akeal Hosein removed Shubman Gill from the game.Fans expressed their opinions and responses to India’s performance on Twitter after the game.
Listed below are a few of the Tweets:
This meme never gets old😭😭😭#WIvsIND #INDvWI #INDvPAK #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/JCJwWxnph5
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket_) August 3, 2023
Another Day and Another Humiliation for Team India as West Indies beat India by 5 runs.#INDvsWI | #WIvsIND | #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/y84WYmyG04
— Ehtisham Siddique (@iMShami_) August 3, 2023
India lost to WI who couldn’t even qualify for WC 👏 #WIvsIND
— New Soul (@Gen_Movie_buff) August 3, 2023
What a downfall for Indian cricket team.😔
We lost the match with this West Indies. Hardik Pandya the main culprit! #WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/wUJQY5yNNV
— Kunal Yadav (@kunaalyaadav) August 3, 2023
After their disastrous run in the World Cup qualifiers, West Indies needed a team like India to revive their losing morale and sagging spirits!
Well played Hardik and Co – you are doing great service to Windies cricket! #WIvsInd #T20I— Venkat Parthasarathy 🇮🇳 (@Venkrek) August 3, 2023
India
