IND vs WI | Hundred against India is my best performance, admits Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer was disappointing in the IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as he returned to India for the first time since the IPL. The crowd expected a similar fate for the left-hander, however, it was not to be as he smashed the Indian bowlers in the T20I series. At Chennai, on a slow and turning track on which Hetmyer has struggled in the past, he got his redemption. 

Chasing a target of 288, the Windies side got off to the worst of starts with Sunil Ambris getting dismissed in the fifth over of the run chase. Since then, Shai Hope and Hetmyer ensured that the tourists did not put a wrong step stitching a 218-run partnership for the second wicket thwarting India’s spin webs. 

Following the game, Hetmyer said in the post-match press conference, according to Cricbuzz, “We just tried to keep it simple, as we knew each other’s strengths (talking about Hope). It is easier for you to execute your plans if you have good chemistry with each other. We knew that I was the aggressor and he was the one who sticks around till the end. ” 

Further, the left-hander admitted that the 139 run knock was his best till date in International cricket. He said, “I came to know that this is my highest score in International cricket, so it has to be the best one. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. It is a nice experience playing in IPL. The ball did not really stop as much making it slightly better to bat. For me, there was much slowness, because of the dew.” 

While India were confident of setting a target, West Indies and Hetmyer feel comfortable chasing a score. “It is always nice chasing a score. It feels much better than setting one. It is a work in process for me to stay till the end.”

India would go into the second ODI at Vizag knowing that they need to get a victory to stay alive in the series while Pollard and co would like to wrap the series up in the upcoming ODI.