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'I would have gone with Mayank in the 17th over...': Gavaskar questions India's tactics in Ranchi T20I against Windies

The West Indies leveled their five-match T20I series against India at 1-1 after comfortably pulling off a historic target in Ranchi. The visiting team successfully chased down India's massive total of 250 with six wickets and nine balls to spare.

This effort marked the highest successful run-chase against India in T20I cricket. After India posted 249/5 in their 20 overs, driven by Sanju Samson's top score of 82 along with 44 from Tilak Varma and 43 from Shreyas Iyer, the West Indies responded by completing the chase in 18.3 overs.

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar criticized India's tactics during the second innings, pointing out that wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was handed the 17th over instead of pacers Mayank Yadav or Arshdeep Singh. In that key 17th over, Kuldeep surrendered 24 runs, giving up three sixes, a boundary, and a wide.

Arshdeep then conceded 17 runs in the 18th over to Shai Hope and Romario Shepherd, before the West Indies wrapped up the victory in the 19th over by hitting Axar Patel for two sixes.

Mayank Yadav had previously broken the West Indies top order early in the innings. He struck twice in his opening over and later dismissed Rovman Powell in the sixth over to leave the visitors at 58/3.

Gavaskar emphasized to JioStar that Mayank, who still had one over left, should have bowled the 17th over. Gavaskar stated: "Definitely!

I would have gone with either Arshdeep or Mayank (in the 17th over). Yes, Arshdeep went for plenty in his final over (18th over), but Mayank had struck the early blows.

Of the wickets that had fallen, he had taken three." Gavaskar added: "His (Mayank) economy rate was about 12 an over, and at that stage, the West Indies needed more than that. So, if he had taken a wicket, and sometimes when the game is going in your favour, who knows, you would have got a wicket even if it had not been off a great delivery.

And once you get a wicket, suddenly, the opposition is on the back foot. A new batter has to come in.

So, maybe that (bringing in Mayank) could have been tried. For me, I think giving Shivam Dube the ball in that ninth over was not exactly what was required at that stage.

When the batters were still trying to get their eye in, maybe Kuldeep coming in would have been a better idea."

The West Indies recovery was led by Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford, who produced a 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Hope remained unbeaten on 102 off 45 deliveries to complete his second T20I century.

Following the performance, West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase defended his captain against criticism, highlighting Hope's efforts in the gym and range-hitting practice to improve his boundary striking. Chase said: "I think people underrate Shai Hope a lot.

He is a guy who can block out a lot of noise and focus on what he has to do. I think that is his special skill because, when everything seems to be going wrong, he is still out there giving his best and performing for the team.

I think that is his hallmark."

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal expressed sympathy for bowlers facing high-scoring playing conditions. Chahal noted: "On such wickets, there's nothing for the bowlers.

When the ball gets old, there's dew, the ball comes nicely onto the bat, and the grounds are getting smaller. We've seen this in the IPL as well, with 260 being chased in 19 overs.

In this game too, 250 got chased down easily in 18.3 overs. So, what should bowlers do?

What is the use of their skill? I feel for them, because I am a bowler too and when I bowl in the IPL, on small grounds with flat wickets, you have an Impact Player as well."

This report also draws on coverage from The Times of India, Hindustan Times, ESPN Cricinfo, India Today, CricTracker.

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