3rd T20I, Kolkata, February 20, 2022, 07:00 PM
India
184/5(20.0ov)
West Indies
167/9(20.0ov)
India beat West Indies by 17 runs
Right then! That is all we have from this match and this also concludes West Indies tour of India. The hosts won both the ODI and T20I series 3-0 but the cricketing action doesn't stop here. India now turn their focus to Sri Lanka, who tour India next. The sides meet in a three-match T20I series first, starting on the 24th of February. The first T20I begins at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT) but the build-up to the game will begin a lot sooner. Do join us then. Take care and goodbye!
Rohit Sharma now lifts the winning trophy and the Indian team is seen rejoicing and posing for a team photo with the trophy!
Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain says that as a team whether they chase or they defend it does not matter, they wanted to tick all the boxes, and he is happy with the series and they got pretty much everything they wanted. Mentions that they do understand they are good while chasing, but most of the guys are missing from the team, and they have a young team. States that the biggest takeaway from the ODI series, was the guys who got an opportunity and made it count, and also the bowlers did well in both the series. Informs that there are a few guys missing from the team for the next tour, but there are other players who will get game time as well, and they have to keep one eye on the T20 World Cup also. He concludes by saying that Sri Lanka will be a different challenge, but they are not looking at any opposition they just want to concentrate on how they can play as a team and improve in different areas. Fielding is one area, they would like to improve upon.
Suryakumar Yadav is named as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AND ALSO THE PLAYER OF THE SERIES! Suryakumar Yadav says that tonight he wanted to replicate what he did in the first game and it was very important for him to stay at the crease after Rohit got dismissed. Says that tonight was a perfect opportunity for him and is glad that everything worked out well. He adds that he is trying to keep things simple and try to do the same thing over and over again, be it on the pitch or in the nets. He says that one needs to just have a few quality net sessions and just believe in themselves. Lastly, he mentions that he is excited about the upcoming series.
West Indies skipper, Kieron Pollard says that they had the momentum till the 15th over, but they gave away 85 odd runs in the last 5 overs and lost the momentum there, but they did start the innings well and could not carry on. Mentions that there are some positives to take from the tour, Pooran returns to form which was good to see, and all the young players performed well in these conditions, Rovman Powell was excellent as well. States that all the players were given the opportunities and they put in all the hard work.
Presentation ceremony...
So, India have now made it 9 consecutive wins in T20I matches and have made short work of the 3-match T20I series against West Indies. With this victory, India now becomes the top-ranked side in the World in T20Is. Stay tuned for the presentation...
Harshal Patel is down for a chat. He says that the bowlers need to have clarity at the end overs. One needs to know what delivery to bowl at the death. States that there was a bit of dampness in the wicket because of the weather today, which was making it difficult to bowl, apart from that there was no dew.
Shardul Thakur is up for a quick chat. He says that the ball was holding on to the wicket and they wanted to bowl fuller, as the batters had time to pull the short ball. Mentions that if he is doing the job for India at the death, he needs to know how it's done, he has done it for Chennai for four years now and will look to carry on the same and prepare well for the T20 World Cup as well. States that they have to mentally be tough and it's okay to be hit for boundaries, but they just have to think about the next ball. Says that everyone has to follow a process, he had a plan to bowl wide yorkers, and he stuck to it, no matter what.
It was the same old story for the visitors. The openers faltering, then Nicholas Pooran doing all the repair work alongside Rovman Powell and getting them into the match and then the middle order undoing all the hard work to make things difficult. This is not a pattern any team would want to follow and the Windies need to do a couple of things differently. Holder, Pollard and Chase, all of them seasoned players but just couldn't get going again. Pooran made it three half-centuries in a row in the series and he seems to be back to his best. He will once again feel a bit let down by the fact that he couldn't get his team over the line. Romario Shepherd did keep the hopes alive with a fiery cameo but the Indian bowlers just executed their deliveries brilliantly at the death. West Indies will now look to go back home and reflect on this tour and make the necessary adjustments in order to get better for the T20 World Cup later in the year.
It was Bhuvneshwar Kumar two nights ago and Harshal Patel has replicated his 19th over antics tonight to hand India a convincing win. Deepak Chahar gave the hosts the perfect start by picking up the Windies openers with a couple of beauties before he had to leave the field with an injury. India then were put on the back foot by Pooran and Powell but they roared back into the match. Everyone apart from Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan got into the wickets column. Venkatesh Iyer covered Chahar's overs well and even got a couple of big wickets. Shardul Thakur was given a tap early on but showed his mental strength by coming back strongly at the death. But it was Harshal Patel who was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up 3 wickets and was miserly as well. All in all, a top bowling effort from the hosts.
A big performance at the death from Shardul Thakur and Harshal Patel has seen India clinch yet another close encounter and they do manage to complete the double clean sweep over West Indies. Once again the Windies falter at the final hurdle and round off a disappointing tour with a disappointing loss.
In over# 20
0
0
0
1wd
0W
4
0
Shardul Thakur 33/2(4)
19.6
.
Another bumper, outside off. Hayden Walsh looks to pull but misses. India yet again hold on under pressure and win by 17 runs!
19.5
.
Back of a length, outside off. Hayden Walsh once again swings his bat but misses once again.
19.4
.
Tad shorter, slower again, outside off. Hayden Walsh looks to pull this one, but misses.
19.4
1wd
Wide! Fuller ball, wide of off. Hayden Walsh swings his bat but misses. Wide given!
Hayden Walsh is the last man in for West Indies. They need three maximums off three deliveries to take the game to a Super Over.
19.3
W
OUT! CAUGHT! A stunner by Rohit Sharma! That should be the game for India! A slower ball, full and outside off. Dominic Drakes tries to go over cover, but the ball goes off the bottom of the bat, and it lobs in the air towards Rohit Sharma at cover. Who dives forward to his right and takes a superb catch! West Indies 9 down now!