Brathwaite Hails Shai Hope After Historic Windies Win Over India
Carlos Brathwaite hails Shai Hope's world-class century as West Indies pull off a historic 250-run chase against India in the 2nd T20I.
West Indies legend Carlos Brathwaite has lauded Shai Hope's world-class performance and the team's incredible resilience following their historic victory over India in the second T20I. The Windies achieved a monumental 250-run chase, marking their highest successful T20I run chase against India, to level the five-match series at 1-1.
Hope's Phenomenal Century Shines
The centerpiece of the victory was a sensational 45-ball century by Shai Hope. This milestone marks Hope's third century during the tour, including two during the ODI leg. His ability to dominate the bowling attack has turned him into a global sensation during this series.
Speaking to ANI, Brathwaite emphasized that Hope deserves much higher international recognition. "Shai Hope has been phenomenal for several years. I think he has more international centuries in India than Shreyas Iyer, someone who I think is bordering on world-class," Brathwaite stated. He noted that while the Caribbean has long adored Hope, the massive Indian market is now finally acknowledging his greatness.
A "Never-Say-Die" Attitude
Beyond the individual brilliance of Hope, Brathwaite credited the collective spirit of the West Indies squad. He highlighted the crucial contributions from Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, noting that the team's ability to bounce back after losing the opening T20I is a testament to their character.
"I just want to appreciate Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, and just a never-say-die attitude from the West Indies," Brathwaite said. He acknowledged that the tour has been challenging for the Caribbean side, both on and off the field, particularly citing financial reports from back home that have tested the team's resilience.
The Evolution of T20 Cricket
When questioned about whether India's bowling or fielding played a role in the defeat, Brathwaite pointed toward the changing nature of the game. He argued that modern T20 pitches have become increasingly batter-friendly, making it difficult for bowlers to find any assistance.
"It's quite difficult now to appreciate run scoring because you got T20 games where people score 240 and it being chased down," he explained. He described the current era as "bowling machines versus batters," suggesting that it is unfair to blame specific bowlers when the pitches offer almost no assistance.
Brathwaite also urged fans to appreciate exceptional batting rather than focusing on bowling shortcomings. He drew a parallel to India's recent exploits, specifically mentioning Shubman Gill's record-breaking unbeaten 223 in the second ODI, which helped India chase down 406. "When West Indies chased 250, I don't want to look into the Indian dressing room and say they could have done something right or wrong," the 2016 T20 World Cup winner concluded.