Following the fourth T20 series match against West Indies, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer shared his disappointment. He noted dissatisfaction with the bowlers' performance, admitting that the team failed to maintain the correct line and length of delivery, which led to negative consequences for the team.
In the match held in Hyderabad on Wednesday (October 14), India lost by a margin of 24 runs. West Indies scored 247 runs, thanks to Shay Hope's unbeaten century, and won by three wickets. In response, the Indian team scored only 223 runs in 19.5 overs, after Arshdeep Singh was forced off the field due to injury.
This victory allowed West Indies to level the series in five matches, bringing it to 2-2. The decisive match between the two teams will take place on Saturday (October 17) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
According to Shreyas Iyer, the difficulties for India began specifically in the bowling department. He emphasized that when chasing a target of around 250 runs, batsmen need a clear plan of action. Although he highly praised the team's spirit during the chase, he named the inability to execute tactical schemes in bowling as the main reason for the defeat. Iyer noted that the West Indies players handled their strategy better, and the pitch itself helped them, as some balls bounced heavily, and the visiting team effectively utilized the ground.
The Indian captain added that the team should trust its skills more instead of overthinking the bowling. He believes it is important to approach every match with a new idea, implement a pre-developed plan, and capitalize on opportunities that arise. Shreyas Iyer admitted that India tried to come back during the match, but West Indies brilliantly countered the pressure. He expressed hope that the fifth match of the series would be exciting, as both teams are evenly matched, and this match will determine the winner.
West Indies captain Shay Hope provided his team with a high score, scoring 102 unbeaten runs off 50 balls. He commented on the game, saying that initially, the pitch seemed easy for the batsmen, but the situation changed later. Hope noted that the new balls sometimes bounced heavily, and sometimes stayed low, which made it difficult for batsmen to gauge the speed and trajectory of the ball. According to him, the ball came onto the pitch even when slowed down, which did not allow for easy hitting straight from the ball in subsequent overs. This gave an advantage to spinners and fast bowlers.
Kim Paul played a key role in West Indies' victory, taking five wickets for 41 runs. Paul stated that the team's plan was to bowl yorkers and target the batsmen strategically when necessary. Slow balls that held up well on the pitch also contributed to the bowlers' success. Paul said that in such conditions, it was important to believe in oneself, and he expressed satisfaction that the team managed to seize opportunities and execute its game plan correctly.
