'I don't blame anyone': Gambhir's strong words after India fail to defend 249

West Indies chased down a target of 250 in just 18.3 overs to register their highest successful T20I chase vs India (Image credit: Agencies)

India head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to blame the toss, the dew or a dropped catch after India suffered a six-wicket defeat against the West Indies in the second T20I in Ranchi on Friday. Instead, he said India had to take responsibility for failing to defend a total of 249. West Indies chased down a target of 250 in just 18.3 overs to register their highest successful T20I chase against India and level the five-match series 1-1. Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 102, while Sherfane Rutherford made 84 to lead the visitors to victory.

'I don't blame anyone'

The toss proved important as heavy dew made it difficult for India's bowlers to grip the ball. Mayank Yadav also dropped Rutherford when the batter was on 38, giving him another chance to build his innings. However, Gambhir refused to blame either the conditions or the missed catch for India's defeat. He said the team had to accept that it had failed to defend a big total. "I don't blame anyone, and I don't blame anything. The bottom line is that we could not defend 250. They batted extremely well, and they deserved to win. "We still have a lot of work to do because, when you play against dangerous teams like the West Indies, you need to figure out how to defend a total, especially when you lose the toss," he said. "The toss is not in your hands, and catches get dropped in sport. That's fine."

'You don't shrug off any defeat'

Gambhir said India could not ignore the defeat or use the difficult bowling conditions as an excuse. He stressed that the team needed to find ways to stop opponents from chasing big totals, even on flat pitches with dew. "You don't shrug off any defeat. If you want to keep improving, you don't want to sweep anything under the carpet. We are a world champion team, so we want to keep improving. "Obviously, these are tough conditions to bowl in. We know that bowling on flat wickets with dew is difficult, but we need to figure out a way to stop the opposition, especially when they have lost two wickets in the first over and then three in the first six overs," he said. "Obviously, it was tough, but credit to the West Indies for the way Shai Hope (102 not out) and Sherfane Rutherford (84) batted. We know they are world class batters, especially in this format. It was tough for us, but we are going to keep improving."

Mayank's early strikes not enough

One of India's positives was Mayank's opening spell. The fast bowler regularly clocked speeds above 140 kmph and dismissed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer off successive deliveries in the first over. He later bowled Rovman Powell with a delivery clocked at 149 kmph. However, Gambhir said the match could not be judged by what happened in the opening over. "I have played enough cricket to know that games are not decided in the first over. Obviously, the West Indies are a strong T20 side. We respect them, and we know how dangerous they are. "Games are not won or lost in the first over. A game of cricket is won or lost by the way you play consistently over the course of 40 overs." Gambhir also backed Mayank to continue bowling at his natural pace. "A fast bowler should bowl like a fast bowler. He is not a slower bowler. "If you can bowl at 150 kmph, bowl at 150. If you can bowl at 120, bowl at 120. When you are playing as a fast bowler, it is your duty to bowl fast, like a fast bowler," he said. "That is what he did today, and that is why he was successful."

Gambhir wants a fair contest between bat and ball

Asked whether India wanted better pitches after another high-scoring match, Gambhir said he wanted a good contest between bat and ball. He had earlier described the Guwahati surface as a featherbed. "Don't you want a good competition between the bat and the ball? Of course, we want what you want. "If you want to see sixes and fours, we want to see that as well. If you want an even contest between bat and ball, we want that too. "The bowlers are our bowlers. They are not foreign bowlers. Their careers are at stake as well. They have worked hard, just like everyone else in the dressing room. If there is an even contest between bat and ball, it will be good. We will get to see better cricket."

Hope, Rutherford power West Indies to record chase

India's inability to defend 249 came after Sanju Samson returned to form with a brilliant 82. Shreyas Iyer scored 40 off 18 balls, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44 off 18 deliveries to take India to 249/5. Samson and Ishan Kishan put on 97 runs for the second wicket. Samson reached his fifty off just 21 balls, helping India make a strong start after being asked to bat. Kishan scored 43 off 22 balls before Roston Chase dismissed him. Chase also removed Shivam Dube, who made seven, as India lost wickets in the middle overs.

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Samson's innings ended at 82 when he was caught in the 15th over. Iyer and Tilak then added quick runs to help India post their highest-ever T20I total against the West Indies. The visitors made a shaky start when Mayank struck twice in the opening over. But Hope and Rutherford took control of the chase, attacking India's spinners despite the difficult conditions. Hope reached his half-century off 24 balls and finished unbeaten on 102 off 45 deliveries, hitting six fours and nine sixes. Rutherford scored 84 off 37 balls, with seven fours and seven sixes. The pair added 120 runs off just 54 balls to put the West Indies firmly on course. Rutherford's dropped catch by Mayank proved costly, but Gambhir refused to use the missed chance as an excuse. Romario Shepherd then scored 34 off 13 balls to provide the final push, as the West Indies completed the chase in 18.3 overs and levelled the series 1-1.

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