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t20 4 of 5
Hyderabad, Oct 13: India’s marauding batters would be eyeing another run feast against a West Indian attack that would have to do more than just be defensive when the two sides clash in the potentially series-deciding fourth T20 International here on Wednesday.
India need a win to seal the five-match rubber by going 3-1 up, while the West Indies would be desperate to draw level at 2-2 to keep the series alive.
The battle on ground is once again expected to be decided predominantly by the power-hitters in both sides.
The hosts will bank on a line-up whose top order is in great form.
The trio of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan has come good in turns to ensure that the Indian middle order has not been put under too much pressure in the series so far.
Abhishek smashed 69 off just 30 balls in the third T20I in Indore, striking six fours and five sixes to help India post a winning 223-run total.
The only concern for the home team would be a relative lack of game time for the middle order due to the top three’s brilliant run. The likes of Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir would have to be up for the challenge in case the top three have an off day, especially in a scenario where the team is chasing a big target.The West Indies, on the other hand, have been struggling to find a way to contain the Indian juggernaut.
If it was skipper Shreyas Iyer, who took the lung-opener from them with his maiden T20I hundred, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan proved to be difficult to handle in the second game that the visitors eventually won.
Abhishek dominated the proceedings in the third game and all-rounder Shamar Springer had no hesitation in acknowledging that his team had no option but to adopt a defensive approach against the on-song opener.
“…I guess our plan B is to just be as defensive as possible and try to make him get singles and twos,” Springer had said, admitting how hard it is to stop Abhishek once he gets going.
For the Caribbeans, opener Sherfane Rutherford has had a terrific series, averaging over 57 for his 172 runs thus far at a brilliant strike rate of 189.
He has smacked 12 sixes in three games and is the leading run-getter in the rubber. Skipper Shai Hope too has led by example and amassed 159 runs at a strike of 182 to make sure that the team’s reputation of being a T20 batting powerhouse remains intact.
The visitors, in fact, have hardly been a pushover despite their lower ranking but they would need a stronger all-round performance to upstage the reigning world champions on home turf.
Nonetheless, India’s bowling attack will have to remain disciplined as the West Indies batting unit has shown that it is capable of chasing big totals.
The team demonstrated its abilities quite well in the second T20 in Ranchi, where it chased down India’s 249 in 18.3 overs thanks to Hope’s 45-ball 102.
In Indore, Shimron Hetmyer (43) and Kamil Pooran (42), and Springer (35 not out) brought the West Indies close before Arshdeep Singh’s three-wicket haul helped India seal the contest.
Spinner Naman Dhir also impressed with figures of two for 39, providing India with another useful bowling option.
The batters in both dugouts would be eager to take the field at Hyderabad, which recorded an average first-innings score of around 209 across seven IPL matches in this year. Dew, however, is not expected to be a big factor under lights, and the teams will need to assess the conditions on the day before deciding their approach at the toss.
Sunrisers Hyderabad teammates Abhishek, Kishan and Nitish will likely enjoy being in familiar surroundings.
India’s last T20I at the venue was against Bangladesh in 2024, when they registered a 133-run victory after posting a record 297 for six. Samson struck 111 off 47 balls in that game and he would be eager to smash another big knock come Wednesday.
The fourth T20I is therefore likely to hinge on which side can strike the right balance between aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. India will be keen to finish the job on Wednesday and avoid taking the series into a nervy decider, but the West Indies have already shown that they possess the firepower to turn a contest around in a matter of overs. While the hosts will hope their in-form top order continues to deliver, greater contributions from the middle order could prove crucial if the visitors manage to strike early.
For the West Indies, containing Abhishek and company will remain a formidable challenge, making early wickets and better execution at the death essential. Their own explosive batters, led by Rutherford and Hope, will also need to sustain their form against an Indian attack that has found ways to make decisive breakthroughs. (PTI)