INDIAN captain Hardik Pandya called on his batsmen to take more responsibility and support their bowlers in future after openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill showed the way in Saturday’s (12) series-levelling Twenty20 win over the West Indies in Florida.
Chasing 179 to level the five-match series at 2-2 after superb knocks by Shai Hope (45) and Shimron Hetmyer (61) lifted the West Indies, India cruised home in Lauderhill with three overs to spare, losing only one wicket along the way.
The impressive Jaiswal was unbeaten on 84 off 51 balls after smashing 11 fours and three sixes, while Gill was equally fluent during his 77 off 47 balls before being dismissed by Romario Shepherd in the 16th over.
“Gill and Jaiswal were brilliant,” said Pandya, who is leading an India side in the absence of several frontline players. “There’s no doubt over their skill set.
“They just needed to spend some time between the wickets.
“Going forward we have to take more responsibility as a batting group and support the bowlers. I’ve always believed bowlers win matches.”
Pandya said he was happy to see his team show some steel after losing the opening two matches of the series.
“The (last) two games we played reflected that we pulled up our socks and made sure to play good cricket,” Pandya said.
“In T20 cricket no one is a favourite. You have to turn up and play good cricket. You have to respect the opposition. They were 2-0 up because they played better cricket than us.”
Jaiswal, who hit his maiden T20 half-century after shining during the test series earlier, said he had full belief in his ability to deliver despite the switch to a different format.
“It’s all about the mindset. I believe in myself and I trust in myself,” Jaiswal said.
“If I give everything it can happen. I just keep telling myself these things, go out there and express myself. I just try to keep it really simple.”
(Reuters)
