New Delhi: India captain Shreyas Iyer praised his bowlers for their confidence, clarity and execution after India defeated the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20 International in Indore on Sunday. The victory gave India a 2-1 lead in the five match series.
Iyer highlighted the bowlers’ ability to execute their plans under pressure, noting that their determination and decisiveness played a crucial role in securing the result. He said the team’s approach was particularly important on a ground where high scoring matches are common.
India also benefited from an explosive start with the bat, led by opener Abhishek Sharma, who top scored with 69 off just 30 deliveries. Ishan Kishan provided further momentum with a rapid 37 off 18 balls, while Prince Yadav contributed valuable runs towards the end of the innings.
Iyer described the opening partnership between Abhishek and Kishan as outstanding, praising their aggressive approach during the powerplay and the momentum they created for the team. He also stressed the importance of remaining focused against a West Indies side known for its ability to produce powerful batting performances.
West Indies captain Shai Hope admitted that his team could have performed better with the ball after choosing to field first. He acknowledged that conceding a few additional boundaries had made a difference, although he praised his side for fighting back after India’s strong start.
Hope pointed to the wickets taken by Roston Chase as an important phase in the contest, helping the visitors regain some control after the opening partnership threatened to take the game away from them.
The West Indies captain also identified the need to establish a reliable opening partnership as an area for improvement. He said a stronger start at the top of the order would help the team build a solid platform in future matches.
Hope further acknowledged the impact of dew during the second innings, explaining that the conditions affected the ball’s movement towards the end of the chase. However, he credited India’s bowlers for their disciplined execution, particularly their use of yorkers under pressure.
With India now leading the series 2-1, the visitors will need to address their bowling execution and opening partnership concerns to stay in contention in the remaining matches.
