New Delhi: India captain Shreyas Iyer has stressed the importance of better bowling execution and a positive mindset ahead of the fifth T20 International against the West Indies after the hosts suffered a 24 run defeat in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
India were bowled out for 223 in 19.3 overs while chasing a challenging target of 248. The result allowed the West Indies to level the five match series 2-2, setting up a decisive final encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Iyer identified the bowling performance as a major factor behind the defeat, pointing to the team’s inability to consistently deliver the right line and length. He maintained that chasing a target of 250 required a clear strategy and disciplined execution.
Despite the loss, the India skipper expressed satisfaction with the team’s approach during the chase. He emphasised that the focus would remain on playing positively rather than making drastic changes, with the players needing to trust their plans and approach the series decider with a fresh mindset.
Iyer also acknowledged the West Indies’ performance, praising their ability to execute their strategies and recover when India appeared to gain momentum. He described the upcoming fifth T20I as an intriguing contest between the two sides.
West Indies captain Shai Hope, who scored an unbeaten 102 for his second century in four matches in the series, felt his team’s total was competitive given the nature of the surface at Hyderabad’s Uppal Stadium.
Hope explained that the pitch behaved differently from expectations, with some deliveries rising sharply while others stayed low. The two paced conditions made stroke making difficult, particularly as the innings progressed and the bowlers began using the surface effectively.
West Indies pacer Keemo Paul played a decisive role in the victory, claiming five wickets for 41 runs to derail India’s chase. He highlighted the importance of executing yorkers, varying his pace and using the conditions to restrict the Indian batters.
With the series evenly poised at 2-2, both teams will now turn their attention to Bengaluru, where the winner of Saturday’s match will claim the series.
