The 2nd ODI between India and West Indies witnessed an enthralling encounter, where the hosts emerged victorious with a convincing six-wicket win. For India, the defeat would surely be a bitter pill to swallow, as they had the opportunity to seal the series and were outclassed in several aspects of the game. Know the three key reasons why India lost the match.
Inconsistent Batting Performance:
One of the primary reasons behind India’s downfall in the 2nd ODI was their inconsistent batting display. While Ishan Kishan’s blazing knock at the top of the order provided a glimmer of hope, the rest of the batting lineup failed to capitalize on the start he provided.
Shubman Gill’s solid innings of 34 hinted at a potential partnership, but he was dismissed before converting it into something big.
The middle-order collapse proved to be the turning point of India’s innings. Once Kishan and Gill departed, the batting lineup crumbled under the pressure imposed by the disciplined West Indian bowlers.
The likes of Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya couldn’t hold their ground, leading to a flurry of wickets.
India’s inability to build substantial partnerships during the middle overs hampered their chances of setting a formidable total. The lack of a solid foundation in the batting order cost them dearly, as they were eventually bundled out for a below-par score of 181.
Struggles Against the West Indian Spinners:
West Indies spinners, Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie, posed significant challenges for the Indian batsmen throughout the match. The slow surface in Barbados offered turn and extra bounce, and the West Indian spin duo exploited these conditions to their advantage.
The dismissal of Shubman Gill was the turning point, as it exposed India’s middle order to the spin threat. Both Shepherd and Motie bowled with remarkable control and accuracy, making it difficult for the Indian batsmen to score freely.
They extracted sharp turns and kept the batsmen guessing, leading to several uncharacteristic shots and wickets falling at regular intervals.
India’s lack of familiarity with the West Indian spinners’ bowling style and the challenging pitch conditions added to their woes, and they couldn’t find a way to counter the spin threat effectively.
Unimpressive Bowling Performance
Another significant factor contributing to India’s defeat was their unimpressive bowling and fielding performance. The bowlers struggled to create early breakthroughs and allowed the West Indian openers, Kyle Mayers and Brandon King, to settle in comfortably.
The failure to pick up wickets during the initial overs provided the hosts with a strong foundation to build upon.
The Indian bowlers also lacked discipline and consistency, allowing the West Indian batsmen to rotate the strike freely and keep the scoreboard ticking. The absence of key players was evident, as India’s bowling attack lacked the cutting edge to dismantle the West Indian batting lineup.
