Bay-run dispute during India vs West Indies match draws attention of captain Shai Hope

The third match of the three-match ODI tournament between India and West Indies is scheduled for October 3rd (Saturday) at the Maharaja Yadvindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullumpur (New Chandigarh). The game will start at 14:00 Indian time. Previously, the Indian team defeated its opponent in matches in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati by eight wickets.

In the first two matches, the Indian team demonstrated strong batting performance. In the second ODI, when West Indies scored 405 runs, three players from the team managed to score a century. In response, India reached a target of 406 runs in 43.3 overs. Captain Shubman Gill scored a record 223 not out, and Rohit Sharma added 101 runs. Before that, Shubman and Virat Kohli scored centuries in the first ODI.

Before the third ODI, there was a serious question regarding the composition of the Indian team. Specialist Krishna is unavailable for the third match, and there are also concerns about the physical condition of Naman Diar, who sustained an injury during the second ODI. Due to this, two changes are expected in the starting lineup: experienced fast bowler Mohammed Siraj may replace Krishna, and Nitish Kumar Reddy may also return to the squad.

In the third ODI, the visiting team West Indies will aim to reduce the series deficit, while India has a chance to close the series with a 3-0 scoreline. Although West Indies batsmen, led by Shay Hope, are scoring many runs, their play shows significant issues in bowling.

The possible starting lineup for India in the third ODI includes: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rituraj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akib Nabi, and Gurnoor Brar.

The presumed lineup for West Indies in the third ODI: John Campbell, Kesi Carty, Shay Hope (captain/wicketkeeper), Amir Jangu, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Kim Pollard, Alzarri Joseph, Sharmeen Joseph, Zaden Silas, and Vital Lodge.

The Indian squad includes: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rituraj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Akib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Naman Diar.

The West Indies squad includes: John Campbell, Joel Andrew, Kesi Carty, Shay Hope (captain/wicketkeeper), Amir Jangu, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Matthew Ford, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Zaden Silas, Kim Pollard, Sharmeen Joseph, and Vital Lodge.

The schedule of West Indies' tour in India shows that the first ODI ended with an Indian victory by 8 runs in Thiruvananthapuram, and the second ODI was also won by India by 8 runs in Guwahati. The third ODI will take place on October 3, 2026, in Mullumpur. Additionally, T20 matches are planned: the first on October 6, 2026, in Lucknow, the second on October 9, 2026, in Ranchi, the third on October 11, 2026, in Indore, the fourth on October 14, 2026, in Hyderabad, and the fifth on October 17, 2026, in Bangalore.

India defeated West Indies in the ODI match in Guwahati, winning by 8 wickets after setting a target of 406 runs. In this match, the total number of runs scored reached 811, with Shubman Gill scoring 223 runs off no dismissal. However, the head coach of the Indian team, Gautam Gambhir, was not satisfied with this high score and raised questions regarding the pitch in Guwahati.

After the game, in a conversation with a broadcaster, Gambhir stated that there should be more confrontation between the bat and the ball. He noted: 'You talk about cricket, but it is not cricket, it is just a game of baseball' (literally: 'it is only batting').

Earlier, batting first, West Indies scored 405 runs in 50 overs, losing 7 wickets. India, having won the toss, chose to field first, but at the beginning of the over period (powerplay), the bowlers again failed to exert pressure. John Campbell and Shy Hope formed a partnership of 110 runs, laying the foundation for a big score; both players scored a century, and Amir Jangu also scored a century.

Although West Indies reached 405 runs, given the pitch conditions favoring baseball and India's attacking potential, this score did not look entirely safe. In response, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill added 255 runs in the first 26 overs. Rohit scored 101 runs. After his dismissal, Gill took the initiative and guided India to the target in 43.3 overs, scoring 223 runs off no dismissal in 133 balls.

Gambhir emphasized that on this type of pitch, the situation becomes difficult for young bowlers. In his opinion, if the opponent had scored 400 runs and then India chased 400, it could have been great from a statistical and spectator point of view, but as a cricket coach and fan, he cares about the bowlers. He noted that while big scores please broadcasters and spectators, balance between the ball and the bat is necessary in cricket. Gambhir insisted that on such a pitch, there must be opportunities for bowlers to operate.

He also commented on bowler statistics. In Gambhir's view, sometimes a bowler's statistics might look poor, but that does not mean they bowled poorly. In such circumstances, the bowler should receive some support and an extra reserve. Gambhir advised the coaching staff to first assess whether the bowler correctly executed their game plan. He warned that excessive strictness towards bowlers based solely on numbers can hinder the preparation of young players.

Citing the debutant Akib Nabi, Gambhir said that he conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs and took no wickets, but in such conditions, he needs support. According to him, there were not many opportunities for any bowler that day. Gambhir also explained the reason for giving Nabi his debut: the team could have given him a chance in the next match, but the series might have already been decided then. In his opinion, giving him a chance under pressure was more beneficial, as the World Cup is also a high-pressure game.

Gambhir also commented on Gunar Barara. He noted that experience playing in difficult conditions, whether in the first 10 overs or at the end of the match (death), is more valuable for players than achieving good statistics in easy conditions. India's victory in Guwahati gave them a 2-0 lead in the series, but after the match with a total score of 811, Gambhir made it clear that he was not impressed by just a rain of runs. His focus is on the confrontation between the bat and the ball in cricket. Thus, despite the win on the Barsapara ground, he raised questions, and his remarks are justified, as cricket is not just a game of baseball; bowlers must also receive sufficient opportunities.

In the ODI match in Guwahati, Indian bowlers faced a powerful onslaught from the West Indies players, leading to an extremely poor performance by the Indian team. In the game held on Wednesday (September 30), West Indies players delivered a one-sided blow to the Indian bowlers. The West Indies team scored three hundreds, and the total score was 405/7, which is the highest score in ODI history for the West Indies.

In the second ODI, the West Indies managed to score an impressive 405/7 in 50 overs, thanks to centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope, and Amir Jangguh. This result is the first score over 400 in ODI for the West Indies; previously, their best score was 389 against England in 2019.

For Akib Nabi, who debuted in ODI for India, the match turned out to be extremely unsuccessful. He conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs and failed to take a single wicket. Thus, he became the Indian bowler who conceded the most runs in his debut ODI. His run rate exceeded the record of Carsan Gavaskar, who conceded 83 runs in 11 overs at Lord's against England in 1975. Furthermore, among the bowlers who bowled at least 30 deliveries, Nabi's economy rate in his debut ODI was 9.51.

Gurnoor Barar, used as a second-tier bowler, took 2 wickets, conceding 96 runs in 10 overs, remaining just four runs away from a hundred. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna took one wicket, conceding 45 runs in 5 overs. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was serving in the Asian Games, and the non-appearance of Mohammed Siraj significantly affected India. Moreover, experienced bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami did not get a chance. This performance raised many questions for the Indian team, which is looking for young bowling alternatives ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

West Indies started the game with an attack on the Indian bowlers. John Campbell demonstrated his signature style, reaching a century in just 65 balls. He was dismissed after scoring 101 runs off 68 balls, including 9 fours and 5 sixes. Following him, Shai Hope continued the innings, stabilizing the game before increasing the tempo. He avoided being caught on the short left side mid-wicket when the ball flew out of Kohli's hands. Hope capitalized on opportunities, scoring 104 runs off 94 balls, including 8 fours and 3 sixes.

Hope was supported by Amir Jangguh, who also played aggressively with the bat. He scored his second ODI century in just 69 balls, remaining unbeaten on 114 runs, using 13 fours and 3 sixes. Thanks to this, the West Indies achieved a triple century in ODI for the first time.

Only the spinners offered slight support to the Indian bowling. Kuldeep Yadav finished his 200 ODI runs with 2/65. Ravindra Jadeja performed with 2/75. All-rounder Naman Dheer also sustained an injury during his bowling spell, conceding 38 runs in 6.1 overs. After the 36th over, he injured his ankle and was forced to leave the field. Overall, this day proved extremely disappointing for Indian bowling in Guwahati.