During the second ODI against West Indies on Saturday, India employed seven bowlers, with Hardik Pandya taking the lead. Although he didn’t secure any wickets, the stand-in captain effectively managed the game in the 6.4 overs he bowled. Hardik mentioned that he sees this opportunity to lead the attack and bowl more as part of his preparation for the ODI World Cup 2023, which will be hosted in India in October-November. He stressed the importance of taking things one step at a time and aiming for a successful performance in the upcoming mega event.
“I have to bowl more overs to get ready for the World Cup. Being a turtle at the moment, not a rabbit. Hoping everything goes well during the World Cup,” said Pandya at the post-match presentation.
Previously, Hardik Pandya encountered challenges with a troublesome back injury that impacted his bowling capabilities to some degree. Nonetheless, the versatile all-rounder made an impressive return during IPL 2022, consistently achieving speeds of 140kmph and displaying remarkable progress. Furthermore, his leadership skills were evident as he guided Gujarat Titans to their first-ever title in their debut season, setting him apart from other players in the league.
The India-West Indies series initially lacked excitement, but the Windies’ all-round effort injected a new spark into the contest. Following India’s dominant 1-0 victory in the Test series, the first 50-over match appeared to be heading in a similar direction. However, the Windies made a strong comeback, led by outstanding displays from Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, resulting in India swiftly dismissing them in the opening ODI match.
The situation took a different turn in the second ODI when India opted to leave out seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. This decision proved to be costly as the Men In Blue struggled and were dismissed for a modest total of 181 runs. The Windies took advantage of this opportunity and comfortably chased down the target in only 36.4 overs.
Windies captain Shai Hope set an example with an unbeaten 63 runs off 80 balls, while Keacy Carty played a crucial role with his unbeaten 48 off 65 balls. Their partnership of 91 runs for the fifth wicket became the turning point after Shardul Thakur’s early breakthroughs. Kuldeep Yadav also contributed with a wicket, but the Windies showed resilience and secured a convincing six-wicket victory.