'Had to remain ruthless': Abhishek Sharma on India's T20I win
Abhishek Sharma explains why India had to remain ruthless to secure a 14-run victory against West Indies in the 3rd T20I at Indore.
Indian batter Abhishek Sharma has emphasized the necessity of maintaining a relentless approach to prevent West Indies from staging a comeback, following India's hard-fought 14-run victory in the third T20I in Indore.
With the five-match series currently tied at 1-1, this crucial win in Indore allows the hosts to take a vital series lead. India posted a formidable total of 223, eventually restricting the West Indies to 209/7. The bowling effort was spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh, who claimed three wickets, and Naman Dhir, who contributed two wickets to secure the win.
The Danger of a West Indian Comeback
Despite the victory, the match remained tense until the final moments. West Indies' Shamar Springer played a blistering unbeaten 35 off just 11 balls, including three sixes, bringing the opposition within striking distance during the final over. This late surge highlighted the unpredictable nature of the West Indian side.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Abhishek Sharma, who was India's standout performer with a rapid 69 off 30 balls, noted that the team was acutely aware of the threat posed by the visitors. He mentioned that the team's strategy focused on not letting the opposition "off the hook."
"I think West Indies is the kind of team against whom you can never say that the match has swung completely in our favor," Abhishek Sharma stated. "That was in our minds, because we saw in the last match as well that whichever batter walks in, given the conditions here, it's very easy for them to take the game away from anywhere."
Learning from the Ranchi Defeat
The emphasis on ruthlessness comes on the heels of a significant setback for India in the second T20I in Ranchi. In that encounter, West Indies registered their highest successful run chase in T20Is, defeating India by six wickets while chasing a massive target of 249/5. That match saw spectacular performances from Shai Hope, who scored an unbeaten 102, and Sherfane Rutherford, who struck 84.
Reflecting on the intensity of the game, Abhishek Sharma admitted that the team had to be prepared for even the most difficult situations. He noted that even if the opposition loses multiple wickets, their ability to strike back remains high.
"If you saw today, the way Springer batted, I got really surprised by the way he played those shots; they weren't easy shots. In that case, you have to be on your toes all the time. Even if they are 50 for 5, they have the capability to turn things around," Sharma explained.
He concluded by stating that the team's focus was on strict execution and avoiding loose deliveries. "We were very much prepared this time that we had to be ruthless. Even if we had a good powerplay with the ball, we couldn't afford to give them even one bad ball. We just wanted to execute our plans, and that's what we did."