Despite India's close four-run defeat to the West Indies in the opening T20I match of the series at the Brian Lara Stadium, skipper Hardik Pandya showed an optimistic spirit in his post-match presentation. India missed a chance to get a lead in the five-game series but Pandya exuded a sense of calm and a positive outlook about the future of the current Indian squad.
"We came close to the target. We made some mistakes which cost us the game, but it's okay," Pandya commented while talking about India's chase of a 150-run target, which they ended at a nail-biting 145 for 9.
The all-rounder emphasised the crucial role of learning from such slip-ups and maintaining control over a cricket match. Accepting the rules of the T20 format, Pandya noted,
"Losing wickets makes it challenging to chase down a total. Our loss of multiple wickets in quick succession... it was a setback."
Unexpectedly, India decided to play with a trio of spin bowlers — Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel. Pandya justified this strategic move when he said, "The combination of three spinners was based on the match conditions. We wanted Yuzi and Kuldeep to pair up, and Axar offers batting strength."
Pandya also praised the T20I debutants, Tilak Varma and Mukesh Kumar. Varma, who donned the Indian jersey for the first time, was impressive with his dynamic 39-run score off 22 balls, aided by 2 fours and 3 sixes.
On the other hand, Mukesh Kumar showed potential during a tough cricket match. "For Mukesh to spend these two weeks preparing and making his debut was fantastic. It was heartening to see how Tilak began his innings," mentioned Hardik.
While India didn't emerge victorious, Pandya's reflections showcased the potential, resilience, and adaptability of the youthful Indian team, and their preparedness for upcoming matches despite this loss.
Pandya's remarks ignited hope for the remaining series matches, with confidence in the team to rebound stronger and with increased synergy.
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