IND vs WI | Always like batting against India, reveals Lendl Simmons
West Indies opener Lendl Simmons has stated that he likes playing against India as it's a great challenge. The right-hander who made his comeback into the West Indies team after a long time, played a sparkling knock of 67* of just 45 balls that helped his team beat India by 8 wickets in the 2nd T20.
Lendl Simmons made his comeback to the West Indies T20I side under the captaincy of Kieron Pollard after two long years and immediately made justice to his selection by playing an unbeaten knock of 67 of just 45 balls which helped West Indies beat India by eight wickets in the second T20I and level the series 1-1.
In the absence of Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis took the responsibility of giving explosive starts while Lendl Simmons kept one end secure and played along, keeping the scoreboard ticking. His experience of playing in the IPL, having won the title multiple times with Mumbai Indians, also helped him become one of the mainstays in their playing eleven.
Simmons enjoys a great record against India in T20Is, averaging 41.66 in 8 T20Is whilst averaging 52.66 in 5 T20Is in India. He has now revealed that he loves batting against the Men in Blue.
"Like playing against India, it's a good challenge," Simmons told in the post-match presentation ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.
"Haven't played international cricket for a while, good to be back on the circuit, playing for the West Indies. Those guys can go at it from ball one, they have a different type of talent. I'm a bit old school. Take my time initially," he further added.
Simmons understands his role in the team and was ably helped by some lusty hitting by Shimron Hetmyer and then Nicholas Pooran, who also played a brilliant cameo of 38* of just 18 balls to ensure that the Windies reached the target easily.
"I understand my game, understand my role in the team. My job in the powerplay is to go hard. Easier to bat outside the powerplay, knock the ball around and get the odd-boundary. Once you get in on that wicket, you can play your shots, and I just did that today," Simmons stated.
When Hetmyer lost his wicket, India were in with a sniff and were looking to put pressure on the West Indies batting line-up. But Pooran, who had come back from a four-match suspension, did not let the Indian bowlers settle into any kind of rhythm and kept on finding the boundaries and sixes at regular intervals.
"We read the conditions well and played our shots. I have worked hard, it's finally paying off a bit. Cricket is all about having fun for me, i have worked hard on my batting and looking to get better," Pooran asserted.