STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsAnother bilateral series, another white-wash and India extended their domination under Rohit Sharma in the limited overs format. For the first time in India’s T20I history, they have white-washed an opponent in consecutive series (Three-plus matches).
Sent into bat by the West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard, India had a new opening pair as Rohit decided to step down and let the youngsters open the innings. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad wasted the opportunity. Shreyas Iyer at number three got a start, but failed to convert. Rohit at number four perished early. But, the new finishers in this series, Venkatesh Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav, decimated the West Indian bowling attack in the last five overs to post a total of 184/5.
In reply, West Indies openers stuttered, but the consistent Nicholas Pooran and hard hitting Rovman Powell got them off to a flier in the Powerplay. However, Harshal Patel in his first over – seventh over of the innings – dismissed Powell. Despite middle order failure for West Indies, India weren’t confirmed of a win as Pooran and Romario Shephard’s partnership of 48 from 32 balls for the seventh wicket looked threatening. Once again, the last two overs bowling won it for India. With a win by 17 runs, India made a clean sweep in the series, 3-0 in the ODIs and 3-0 in the T20Is:
Chase’s miser spells
Pooran was the star with the bat in this series for the West Indies. With ball in hand, it was undeniably Roston Chase. In a series in which none of the other West Indian bowlers conceded less than 7.5, Chase finished his 12 overs in the series with six wickets at an economy of 5.2. The six wickets bagged by Chase in this series were the fourth most for a West Indian spinner in a bilateral series.
More than the wickets, his miserly spells were the highlight. Throughout the series, he just conceded runs at 5.2 economy after bowling four overs in each of the three. Among West Indies bowlers who have bowled 10+ overs in a series, only Sunil Narine (4.6) in T20 World Cup 2014 and Samuel Badree (5.1) in a bilateral series against Afghanistan had conceded less.
Blazing partnership
When Venky Iyer joined Suryakumar for the fifth wicket partnership, India were in slight trouble with 93 runs on board at the 14th over. With six overs remaining, the target of 170 looked distant. But, the two batsmen had different ideas.
They forged a 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket at a run rate of 14.8. In total, there were seven sixes hit in the partnership and five fours. In 50+ run partnerships for India, only twice have India scored at a higher run rate. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni in the famous match against England in the 2007 T20 WC had stitched a partnership of 61 at a run rate of 19.3, which is the highest.
Ferocious fifth wicket partnership
More than the series win, India will be happy with the fact that their finishers came to the party. In the absence of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, India were banking on Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar to fulfill the role. However, Venky Iyer came in as an addition.
Throughout this series, India’s fifth wicket partnership had scored 215 runs at a run rate of 13.2. In a series in which India's fifth wicket PS has witnessed 50+ runs, the run rate is the highest. In addition, the 215 runs scored is also the highest for India in a T20I series. Overall, this is the joint third most runs scored by the fifth wicket partnership in a series.
Number five and six batsmen breathing fire
In each of the three matches played this series, India’s number five and six batsmen got a chance to bat and boy! They were breathing fire. Across the series, the number five and six batsmen scored at a strike rate of 191.3, the highest for India in a series.
In each of the three T20Is, whichever Indian batsmen batted at five and six had scored at a strike rate of over 180 in each of those. Surykumar batted twice at number five and Venky Iyer’s all three innings were at number six. In a series in which five and six batsmen had scored over 50 runs and batted two innings, Suryakumar’s strike rate of 202.04 and Venky Iyer’s strike rate of 184 are the second and third best.
To add more glory, this is the first time in a T20I series where both five and six batsmen of a team have scored 50+ runs each in two-plus innings at a strike rate of 180+.
Bombardment in the last five overs
One other key aspect behind India’s series win has been their late surge with the bat. In today’s match, it just wasn’t a surge, it was massacre. West Indies bowlers were stomped over with authority and were showcased to some quality stroke play by Venky Iyer and Suryakumar.
In the last five overs, India thrashed 86 runs, which is the most for them in T20I innings. Previously, against England in the 2007 T20 WC, India had scored 80 runs in the last five, out of which 36 came off one over.
Not only this match, as said, throughout this series India had scored at a run rate of 13.7 in the last five overs. In a series in which India have batted 10+ overs in this phase, this is the highest they have scored.
Another fine all-rounder in the making?
With Hardik prone to injury off-late, India’s constant search for a seam bowling all-rounder has somewhat concluded with Venky Iyer. In the three matches he batted this series as finisher, Venky Iyer scored 99 runs at a strike rate of 184 and bagged two wickets in the 3.1 overs he bowled.
In today’s match, he achieved a special feat. After scoring an unbeaten 35, came in as the replacement bowler for Deepak Chahar who walked off the field citing a hamstring injury and picked up two crucial wickets. By virtue of those wickets, he became the second Indian all-rounder after Yuvraj Singh (twice) to score 35 and pick up two wickets in the same T20I.
The longing consistency found in Pooran
For a long time, there had been a lot of expectations on Pooran. However, he had always blown hot and cold. But, in recent times, especially since his shift to number three, the prolonged expectation of consistency seems to have emerged in him.
In the year 2022, Pooran has played eight innings and has scored four 50+ scores. In this series he became the fourth batsman after Virat Kohli in 2016 against Australia, Colin Munro in 2017 against West Indies and David Warner in 2019 against Sri Lanka to hit a 50+ score in all innings of a three match-bilateral T20I series. Also, he became the third West Indies batsman to hit three or more consecutive 50+ scores in T20Is.
Thanks to his consistency, he registered another milestone. With 184 runs in this series, he now has the most runs for West Indies batsman in a bilateral T20I series. He went past the record of 178 runs set by Evin Lewis against South Africa in 2021.
