‘I’m not making excuses’ – Shai Hope reflects on big loss in first ODI against India

Shai Hope. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

After losing out on the two-match Test series, the West Indies geared up to take on the Rohit Sharma-led India in a three-match ODI series, with the first ODI scheduled for Thursday, July 27. The game got underway, and the Windies got off to the worst of starts to the white-ball series as India breezed past the hosts comfortably.

Chasing the target in just 23 overs and winning the game by five wickets, team India stamped their authority on the ODI series as well. After winning the first game, the team will be keen on putting in similar performances for the remaining matches of the series as well.

After their batting collapse and underperformance in the first ODI, Windies’ ODI skipper Shai Hope took center stage to shed more light on the matter. Hope came forward to opine that while he is not making excuses for the loss, he expressed his concerns about the challenging pitch that was in play and pointed out the team’s inability to play on it.

“Let’s just say we didn’t play the way we needed to. On a challenging pitch, we need to find ways to score. I’m not making excuses, but anyone watching cricket can see what’s happening here. But we have to find ways to score,” Hope said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Batting collapse led to West Indies’ demise

Speaking of the game, the Windies came out to bat first after losing the toss. However, their entire batting lineup was at the mercy of the Indian bowlers. With skipper Hope being the highest run-getter with his knock of 43 runs, the West Indies were bundled out for a meager 114 runs in the first innings.

It was the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, who took three and four wickets, respectively, to make things easier for the visitors ahead of the run chase. In the second innings, India did lose five wickets in the process of chasing the target. However, Ishan Kishan’s knock of 52 runs in 46 deliveries helped India go one-up in the ODI series.