Hardik Pandya expressed his delight over India’s victory, deeming it a remarkable win in the post-match presentation ceremony. He enjoys high-stake games as a captain and considers the third ODI against the West Indies to carry more significance than a typical international encounter.
The team was fully aware of the importance of this match, and losing would have been extremely disappointing, according to Pandya. However, the players showed great character and thrived in the pressure-filled situation, which is crucial in handling such scenarios.
In this game, India decided to rest regular captain Rohit Sharma and prolific batsman Virat Kohli for the second consecutive match in the series. While Kohli and Sharma are integral parts of the team, the decision to rest them was aimed at nurturing young talents and building a strong reserve for the future, as mentioned by Pandya. Meanwhile, Hardik received valuable advice from Virat Kohli.
Pandya highlighted the valuable advice he received from Kohli before the match. The Indian skipper advised him to spend more time at the crease and get used to the 50-over format. Pandya expressed his gratitude for the experienced batsman’s guidance and acknowledged the importance of sharing experiences among teammates.
“I am really thankful to him for sharing that experience with me,” Pandya added.
Gill-Kishan partnership
The exceptional opening partnership between Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill set the tone for India with an impressive 143-run stand. The momentum continued with quick contributions from Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya, propelling India to a formidable total of 351/5. The match concluded with a convincing victory for the Men in Blue.
India secured the series victory with a scoreline of 2-1 after a dominant 200-run win over West Indies in the third and decisive ODI match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.