Do not say that I didn’t tell you. In my last column, I wrote that I expected the West Indies to put up a far stiffer fight in the T20 series against the Indians, but to be completely honest, they have well and truly exceeded even my own optimistic expectations.
Outside of a few die-hard gamblers, how many would have bet on this series going down to a fifth-and-final, winner-take-all decider tied 2-2? How many of you would have bet that the WI would score 250 runs in a T20? In India? Twice?
Of course, this improbable resurgence would have been dead on arrival without Shai Hope’s silky, majestic presence. Hope must now be universally ranked among the top three batsmen in world cricket—if not holding down the number one spot outright. I heard King Sammy insist in an interview that the batting card is much more than a one-man show, and while others have certainly stepped up to provide firepower and contributed in the series, the math does not lie: when Hope gets runs, there is genuine hope for a West Indies victory (pun intended).
He is comfortably the most consistent run-scorer we have witnessed since the immortal Brian Charles Lara.
Just feast your eyes on his numbers across this tour. In the ODIs: 12 off 11 balls in the opener (loss); 104 off 94 in the second (loss); and a heroic 162 not out off 143 in the third to anchor the victory.
The T20s: 52 off 37 in the first (loss); a blistering 102 not out off 45 in the second (win); 5 off 5 in the third (loss); and another masterpiece 102 not out off 50 balls on Wednesday to secure a 24-run win. The equation is shockingly simple: half the time Hope scores big, West Indies win.
Even more telling, West Indies have lost every single match on this tour where Hope got out (even if he scored a century). That isn’t to dismiss the supporting cast, who have played some vital roles, but once Hope is holding court at the crease, the pressure evaporates for everyone else.
Scanning down the rest of the batting order, Shimron Hetmyer remains dangerous batting at number 3, though he has largely treated us to brief, tantalising cameos so far.
We are all desperately waiting for a focused Hetmyer to unleash his full potential (hopefully, he’s just saving his best for the grand finale). Sherfane Rutherford has brought raw power to the middle order, acting as the ideal muscle alongside Hope, including a crucial 49 not out on Wednesday. If he can bottle that consistency, opposition captains are going to run out of answers.
Kamil Pooran has got his chance at this level but has not really made the most of it. He possesses clear white-ball talent, but his shot selection and all-round game need refining. It’s still early days for him.
Rovman Powell remains a personal favorite of mine in the shortest format. While he hasn’t hit top gear during this tour, his explosive six-hitting against pure pace and his unmatched athleticism in the deep make him indispensable. He is still a little susceptible to good wrist spin bowling, but he loves the faster stuff and is brilliant in the field, as his catching, especially in the deep, is second to none.
The lower-order engine room of Romario Shepherd at 6, Keemo Paul at 7, and Shamar Springer at 8 gives WI serious hitting depth inside the final five overs—provided they read the match situation properly, understand their role and pick the right balls to go after.
I must admit, however, I am still somewhat baffled as to why Amir Jangoo hasn’t been handed the opening slot alongside Hope. Fresh off his CPL heroics with the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and a strong performance in the ODI Series, Jangoo earned his shot, but perhaps King Sammy is simply prioritising a look at young Jewel Andrew and Pooran first.
Meanwhile, Quentin Sampson has power to burn, but adjusting to the subtle deceptions of international T20 bowling will take time.
Regardless, the India camp has clearly been taken aback by the sheer brutality with which their bowling attack has been dismantled, with Hope acting as the undisputed star boy.
While the batsmen have been carving up boundaries, it has been a punishing, trial-by-fire series for our bowling attack. Roston Chase has quietly been the West Indies’ most dependable asset, consistently sliding in economical spells and picking up timely breakthroughs to stem the flow of runs.
I am particularly impressed with Shamar Springer. When you lack express pace (as both Springer and Keemo Paul do), you have to bowl with intelligence. Moeen Ali used Springer brilliantly during the CPL, calling on him whenever a partnership needed breaking, and he is showing he can replicate that smart, death-over execution at the international level.
That death-overs period remains the biggest tactical flaw for WI, with the team leaking far too many runs in the final four overs. Romario Shepherd’s execution at the death has been worryingly erratic, and our bowling coach needs to keep drilling him hard on his yorkers, as there is no doubt about his hard-hitting ability with the bat.
In the spin department, Akeal Hosein has looked a step below his usual world-class standards and needs a quick return to basics to recapture his rhythm. Consequently, Gudakesh Motie has officially overtaken him as the primary frontline spinner, turning the ball sharply and reading batsmen’s intentions beautifully.
As for Shamar Joseph, I love the young man’s raw heart and aggression, but he is currently all over the shop in T20 cricket. He should be kept strictly wrapped in cotton wool for the red-ball Test side where his pace and short-pitched hostile spells are best utilised.
Keemo Paul, on the other hand, is proving to be a genuine, street-smart fighter who gets better with every game, as evidenced by his sensational five-wicket haul (5 for 40) in the fourth T20. Matthew Forde still looks raw and has plenty of homework to do before settling in at this level.
Can the West Indies actually pull off the unthinkable and win this series on Indian soil? Absolutely. The batting unit is firing on all cylinders, though—sorry to repeat myself—Shai Hope almost certainly needs to lay down another masterclass for WI to cross the finish line. If the bowlers can keep their cool, bowl smart in the death overs, and maintain discipline, the entire region might just be celebrating a famous series victory come weekend.
Good luck to the Maroon caps—bring it home for the fans!
