Sunil Gavaskar Urges Indian Batters To Shoulder More Responsibility After Loss In 4th T20I

Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has said that the Indian team would need to improve its run-chasing strategies, adding that if the batters don’t take more responsibility, their success rates would drop, as India slumped to a 24-run defeat to West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Despite Sanju Samson’s brisk fifty, India fell short of chasing down West Indies’ total of 247/3.

Keemo Paul claimed a five-for to bowl India out for 223, bagging a 24-run victory for the West Indies and setting up a series decider in Bengaluru.

“The first thing this Indian side needs to improve is how they chase. The batting unit needs to show more responsibility. If the batters don’t take responsibility, this Indian side will not succeed,” Gavaskar

said while speaking on JioStar.

“On a pitch like this, with the dew coming in, you have to show the kind of dominance with the bat that a back-to-back T20 World Cup-winning team should, but that was missing completely in this game,” Gavaskar added.

Samson brought up his fifty off just 20 deliveries, but Paul shifted the momentum in the West Indies’ favour in the fifth over, dismissing the opener and Ishan Kishan in quick succession.

Shimron Hetmyer caught Samson, while Kishan fell for six off three balls, leaving India at 69/2.

Shreyas Iyer tried to stabilise the innings but fell to Shamar Springer for 16 off 11 deliveries. Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, managed 29 off 24 balls, including three boundaries and a six, but couldn’t build on his start.

Gudakesh Motie struck twice in the 12th over, removing Abhishek and Naman Dhir, who was stumped for a golden duck. Finishing with figures of 2/13 in two overs, Motie left India reeling at 132/5 and put the hosts under considerable pressure.

Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy mounted a spirited counterattack to revive India’s hopes, but they were soon dashed.