India vs West Indies: Hardik Pandya Feels His Slow Approach After 10 Overs Cost The Team

Add as a preferred source on Google

Lauderhill (USA), August 14: Indian captain Hardik Pandya has taken the blame on himself for the defeat in the series decider against West Indies on Sunday (August 13) night at the Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

After coming from 0-2 down to level the series with back-to-back wins, Team India suffered a 9-wicket loss to the West Indies, losing their first bilateral series under skipper Pandya.

Opting to bat, India could only post 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs with only Suryakumar Yadav coming good, scoring 61 off 45 balls as Romariao Shepherd claimed 4 wickets for the West Indies.

Skipper Pandya admitted that his own lack of rhythm and slow approach became a turning point as his team lost momentum during the back-10 overs of the fifth T20 International.

"If you see, we lost that period post 10 overs. Since when I came, I wasn't able to capitalise and I took my time and could not finish," Pandya was forthright in his admission having scored 14 off 18 balls.

"I think the boys really played well. I think, at that period when I went in, I kind of did not play exactly how it was supposed to be," Pandya added on the final 10 overs of the Indian batting.

On a slow track, which India had won chasing just 24 hours ago, Pandya defended his decision to bat first and also highlighted the importance of looking at the bigger picture, even if working towards that goal meant taking in a few losses.

"I believe that as a group we have to challenge ourselves. All these games are the games where we have to learn. We have spoken as a group that whenever we can take the hard way we will. In hindsight, one series here or there doesn't matter but the commitment to the goal is important," Pandya added.

Pandya knows that India will play World T20 in this part of the world but doesn't want to look too far ahead with the ODI World Cup fast-approaching and also added losing is good sometimes.

"It's a long way. We have the ODI World Cup coming up. And sometimes losing is good. You get to learn a lot. And special mention for all the boys. They showed great character. Winning and losing is a part of the process and we are going to make sure we learn from that," he said.

Some of his bowling changes, especially not utilising senior spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the second T20I, were panned by critics, but he said that he goes by his instincts. "It is what I feel at the moment, I don't plan much. If I see a situation, whatever my gut says I follow, " Pandya said.

While the series ended in defeat, there were some positives like the performance of youngsters Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made their debut during the series. Pandya praised the duo for their lion-hearted effort.

"They've got heart. That is something that's very important in international cricket. Every youngster coming through has belief. That's something I see very often now. Kudos to them, they came out and took responsibility. I can't be happier as a captain," he concluded.

Team India will next be invovled in a three-match T20I series in Ireland, for which some of the team members that travelled to West Indies will be rested with the returning Jasprit Bumrah set to lead the side. The series is set to take place from August 18 to 23 in Dublin.