India didn’t just beat the West Indies comfortably by a margin of 67 runs, they destroyed what seemed a group of hapless, clueless bowlers by the end of their 20 innings. Under shiny bright Wankhede lights, batsmen communicated with fours and sixes and the common narrative of the contest was usually down to the length the ball traveled into the stands as there was hardly any dearth of nerve-wracking excitement produced by the batsmen, the Windies going only as far as they could in reducing the margin of defeat to an unstoppable India.
Any thought of the visitors having a smooth ride in a format they are relatively comfortable playing, at the back of the T20 reputation of big-hitting was simply out of the question, as India posted a mighty 240, the highest they’ve scored ever against the West Indies.
There were no salutes, no celebrations, let alone any ‘send-offs’ as an absolute top order carnage from India’s batsmen blew the Windies away.
In so doing, as India beat the visitors by a margin of 2-1, they also removed any doubts about they may have had surrounding their ability to defend T20 totals.
But what were the key takeaways from India vs West Indies 2019 T20 final?
India’s Supreme Trio At The Top
Usually, the adage is when the going gets tough, then the tough get going. But it doesn’t really stand true for Rahul and Rohit, two batsmen who simply can’t be stopped when they get going, something that happens on more occasions that any bowling attack would like.
There’s not an awful lot that the Windies bowlers could do in front of the batting masterclass produced by India’s top order heroes. Bolstered by Rahul and Rohit, who didn’t score but carved runs, exemplifying the intent that Virat Kohli had spoken about early on, India were off to a flier.
There was never any stopping the bustling duo- among the key talking points from India vs West Indies 2019 T20 final- that reached 102 in the 8th over, leaving very little to the imagination as they pretty much punctured the Windies bowlers.
But the early rush of adrenaline paved way for the Indian batsmen to simply crawl over the Windies bowling.
KL Rahul’s Most Definitive T20 Fifty Vs West Indies
Carrying the sublime form he demonstrated at Hyderbad- 62 off 40- into the Wankhede, KL Rahul joined hands with Rohit to produce what was inarguably, the best T20 opening stand of this series.
His 91 came off just 56 and was laced with 4 sixes and 9 boundaries. But what set Rahul apart from the others was the marvelous touch he seemed to be in. At one stage, going wide into the crease toward the on side to lift Jason Holder over extra cover for a six.
Making full use of the opportunity to contribute in place of the injured Dhawan, Rahul’s sublime touch was among the key talking points from India vs West Indies 2019 T20 final
Tough Luck For Evin Lewis
As a fielder, he did save an almost unbelievable blow, that was certain to have gone over the ropes. But Evin Lewis’ constant haggling in the outfield in front of what was an ordinary show of bowling by his team didn’t give him any comfort whatsoever, making for a bitter picture for the fielding side.
Among the key talking points from India vs West Indies 2019 T20 final was Lewis being carried away from the field, having hurt himself in the process of his fielding duties, in front of a brutal batting show.
The situation also left one wondering about what might have happened if Lewis would’ve appeared out for a bat. Clearly, the most-in form batsmen from the playing eleven against India, would the Windies have edged any closer to matching India’s total or have in the near about?
Banal West Indies Bowling Lets The Side Down
The West Indies bowlers’ plight was indicated by the sheer dearth of success they enjoyed in India’s innings. An early blow, a wicket here and there and the match would’ve been a different story altogether.
Just that it was never to be.
They couldn’t quite gather themselves to stop the duo of Rahul and Rohit; mayhem-makers at Wankhede!
But when you see someone like a Cottrell (with an economy of under 8) and the experienced Jason Holder being taken apart with audacious ease, you tend to expect the worst that could possibly happen. That’s exactly what the Windies bowlers struggled to contain as India asked Windies to go 12 an over if they were to challenge the might of Virat’s team, anyways.
While it did seem for a while that putting on the spinners would have put some brakes on what was a whirlwind exhibition of batting, Hayden Walsh Jr.’s wrist spin producing the dot balls, as did Kesrick Williams on a few occasions, it didn’t bring too much of a respite from Rahul, Rohit, and later, Virat’s stellar show.
Pollard Glitters Amid The Gloom
He might have ended up on the losing side, but he ensured he gave a good, tough fight- did he not?
Putting all his experience of having played in the IPL, in what is clearly his home ground for the Mumbai Indians franchise, Pollard got a chance to flex his muscle, emerging with 6 of the 12 maximums fired by his team.
It’s one thing to lose, it’s quite another to give a strong fight and Pollard’s stormy resistance- amplified by his 68 off 39- did more than just give his losing side a saving grace.
It inspired some hope for a team that was down and out and more importantly, gave a chance for the West Indies to inch a bit closer to India’s gigantic ask, in the end.
But given the team recovered quite well having been 17-3 at one stage, upon losing Pooarn, to rising to 100-4, saw Pollard anchor a chase that one thought might even have had a more thrilling end to it, had Hetmyer stayed on, after pounding 5 sixes in his 41 off 24.