Hardik Pandya slams West Indies board: ‘We need some basic necessities taken care of’ | Cricket News – Times of India
In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik led the Indian team to a resounding victory in Trinidad, as the visitors defeated the West Indies by a massive 200-run margin to secure a 2-1 win in the three-match ODI series.
The skipper himself had a brilliant game, contributing an unbeaten 70 runs off 52 balls to the team’s triumph.
“This was one of the nicest grounds we have played (on). Things can be better when we come to West Indies next time. From travelling to managing a lot of things. Last year also some hiccups happened,” Hardik said after the game at the Brian Lara Stadium.
“I think it’s time for West Indies Cricket to take note of it and make sure that when a team travels… We don’t ask for luxury, but we need some basic necessities taken care of. Other than that, really enjoyed coming here and playing some good cricket,” he added.
Ahead of the first ODI, the Indian cricketers had expressed their discontent to BCCI over a delayed late-night flight from Trinidad to Barbados. This left them sleep-deprived and affected their preparation ahead of the ODI series opener.
In the decisive match on Tuesday, India took control from the start, putting up an imposing total of 351/5 after being asked to bat first.
Shubman Gill’s remarkable 85 off 92 balls, along with Ishan Kishan’s 77 off 64 balls, laid the foundation for a formidable score. The duo added 143 runs for the opening partnership.
Sanju Samson further strengthened his case to be picked as a reserve middle-order batter for the World Cup with an impressive 51 off 41 balls. Meanwhile, Pandya displayed his power-hitting prowess, smashing five sixes and four boundaries on a good batting surface.
The West Indies’ chase was always a challenging task, and it quickly turned into a daunting one as Mukesh Kumar’s three-wicket burst with some quality seam bowling during the first powerplay dashed their hopes. After that, Shardul Thakur’s 4/37 did further damage.
As a result, the West Indies were bundled out for a mere 151 runs in just 35.3 overs.
(With agency inputs)
