Hardik Pandya’s captaincy has come under scanner after India’s defeat to the West Indies in the second T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana yesterday (August 6).

The West Indies registered their second successive victory of the series, at the Providence Stadium on August 6, to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. After India opted to bat and scored 152, the hosts seemed comfortable in the chase until the 14th over, after which things took a drastic turn.

They lost four wickets for three runs in 13 balls, bringing India back in the game, Yuzvendra Chahal was the catalyst that forced this turnaround. In his third over (the 16th of the innings), he gave just two runs and accounted for three West Indian batters (including a run out).

Romario Shepherd was run out on the first ball after Shimron Hetmyer sold him down the river on an attempted second run. Chahal then went past Jason Holder’s outside edge twice in the next three balls, one of which resulted in a stumping. And Hetmyer missed the last ball and was struck dead in front of the wicket and was out lbw on review.

The West Indies needed 26 in 30 balls with five wickets in hand; after Chahal’s over, the numbers changed to 24, 24, and two. Yet, he did not get to bowl his last one as he finished with figures of 3-0-19-2 and the West Indies finished victorious with seven balls to spare.

In the first match of the series as well, Chahal had not completed his quota despite picking 2-24. While there’s no certainty that bowling out Chahal in the second T20I would have worked in India’s favour, it would have been worth the gamble, given the state of the game and how the ball was gripping and turning big.

In the end, Hardik decided to hold him back for the 20th over and bowl out Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph finished the chase off with more than an over to spare.

Hardik’s captaincy, especially his decision to not complete Chahal’s quota of overs, came under the firing line after the defeat. Several former India cricketers as well as the fans questioned the move.

Baffling for me that Chahal hasn’t finished his quota of 4 overs in both the games. #INDvsWI

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 6, 2023

Chahal was the best Indian spinner…his 3rd over (16th over) spun the match in India’s favour. Hetmeyer…Holder dismissed by Chahal. Shepherd runout. He should’ve bowled the fourth over…ideally, the 18th over…if not 18th…definitely 19th. IMHO. #WIvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 6, 2023

#TeamIndia got those wickets in the middle, but it wasn’t enough. Chahal should have bowled his quota after getting 3 in that over! Good win for @windiescricket but the Men in Blue need to plan better to come back stronger in the series.

— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) August 6, 2023

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