Losing wickets cost me the match: Hardik Pandya

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Tarouba (Trinidad). India’s T20 captain Hardik Pandya has blamed the rapid fall of wickets in the middle overs as the reason for his team’s loss in the first T20 match and a narrow four-run loss to the West Indies. This was the first match of the five-match series.

The hosts were reduced to 149/6 in 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Tilak Verma (39) and Hardik Pandya (19) and then Sanju Samson (12) took India to 113/4 after a shaky start.

But India lost both Pandya and Samson to score 113 within three balls and were eventually restricted to 145/9 in 20 overs. Pandya was bowled by Jason Holder (2-19) while Samson was run out.

Pandya said that losing two wickets in a row resulted in India’s defeat in the match.

After the match, Pandya said, “Throughout the game, we were in control. I have always believed that in T20 cricket if you lose wickets, it becomes difficult to chase. When we (consistently) Lost a few wickets…we paid the price for it.”

The India skipper said that his team made mistakes that cost them the match and started the five-match series on a losing note. The last two matches of the series will be played in Lauderhill, United States.

Pandya said the decision to include three spinners was due to the playing conditions. India entered the match with Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Akshar Patel. Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar were the frontline pacers.

Pandya said, “Having three spinners suited the conditions. We wanted Yuji and Kuldeep to play together and Akshar to score runs with the bat. Medium pacer Mukesh made his India debut.”

Pandya was also pleased with the batting of middle-order batsman Tilak Verma, who top-scored with a 22-ball 39 on his debut for India.

“It was great to see the way Tilak started his innings. He started his T20 career with a six off the second ball,” Pandya said about the Mumbai Indian batsman.(IANS)

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