IND vs WI | 2nd T20I Evaluation Chart - Masterful Windies hand Virat Kohli & co. T20 lesson

From the outset, it did look like it was the Windies who had won the first T20I as they were the ones who entered the game with all the energy. The Indian openers looked dull from the word go, and for a long while, even the surprise promotion of Shivam Dube to No.3 wasn’t able to spark things up. With Rahul unable to replicate his first T20I heroics and with Rohit’s horror run in T20Is continuing, it wasn’t until a Kieron Pollard over - where Dube teed off and hit three sixes - that the team got going. However, the joy was short-lived and everything came crashing down for the hosts after Dube’s dismissal. Kohli’s uncharacteristic failure hurt them big time and despite Pant’s lower-order cameo, they could only manage to post 170, a sub-par score on a good track, batting first. 

In reply, the Windies executed their plan to perfection as they treaded cautiously with the new-ball before unloading on the Indian bowlers, as the dew started setting in. India’s dismal fielding efforts too lend them a helping hand as both Lewis and Simmons were handed lives early on in the innings. Eventually, an unbeaten 67 from Simmons and cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran ensured that the visitors coasted home with 9 balls to spare.

Undoubtedly, Shivam Dube’s dismissal is what turned the match around in the Windies’ favour. India were flying high at 97-2 in 10.2 overs prior to his dismissal and post his dismissal, they only added just 73 runs in the next 53 balls that followed. 170 was never going to be enough in this belter of a wicket, especially due to the dew factor, and in retrospect, they’d lost the game even before the bowlers had a chance to defend the total.  

When a player is visibly struggling, you would like to see the crowd lend him all the support he needs, but sadly with the Indian crowd, that’s not the case. There were thunderous cheers after Rishabh Pant dropped a sitter and that very moment was disgraceful and condemnable, to say the least. What ever happened to the ‘country over players’ mantra?

Coming on the back of such an emphatic win, India’s approach in the powerplay was underwhelming. Shivam Dube’s promotion after Rahul’s dismissal was weird and at the end of the powerplay, none of the top 3 batters had a SR over 112. The intent shown - only 4 boundaries off the bat - was confounding and if anything, their score (42/1) was propelled by some substandard bowling.

In short, it was a masterful display of death bowling by the Windies bowlers. They conceded JUST 26 runs in the last five overs and the trio of Hayden Walsh - Kesrick Williams - Sheldon Cottrell strangled the Indian batters with their subtle variations, more often than not depriving them of pace. They conceded just one boundary in the last five overs and did a phenomenal job of pulling things back. 

Bar Pollard’s uncharacteristic and bizarre misjudgement off the bowling of Hayden Walsh which gave Dube a short-lived life, the visitors were right on the money with their fielding. Catches weren’t spilt nor were overthrows conceded and despite them not inflicting a run-out, they kept the Indian batsmen in check with their speed and agility. Guess I’ve to dock some points for that Pollard goof up, though.  

In comparison to the first T20I, the entertainment that was dished out to the crowd was very subdued, but nevertheless, the way the likes of Dube, Simmons, Hetmyer and Pooran were smacking the ball was a sight in itself. Indian fans sure would not have enjoyed it, but as a neutral, it was pretty fun!