Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill stitched a record-equalling opening partnership for India in T20Is, guiding their team to a nine-wicket victory in the must-win 4th T20I against West Indies on Saturday, August 13.
In a remarkable turnaround, India surged back to level the T20I series against West Indies 2-2 with a dominant performance at Lauderhill, Florida. Young Indian openers Gill and Jaiswal stole the show, amassing a colossal 165-run opening partnership – a record joint-highest for India in the T20I format. Gill’s fiery 77 off 47 balls ensured India’s triumph in the must-win encounter.
WI vs IND Highlights
When asked about the partnership, Jaiswal after the match said: “We knew which bowlers to take on.”
“Of course [international cricket] is not easy but I just love to go out and enjoy myself. I would love to thank Hardik bhai and the support staff, the way they have spoken it really had an impact. I just try to play how the team needs and how I can express myself. I just think of how quickly I can score and how many runs I can get in the powerplay. Of course reading the wicket and reading the situation, but my intent is always to score runs.”
The duo’s onslaught left the Windies bowlers reeling, with only Romario Shepherd managing to claim a solitary wicket. Impressive batting from Shai Hope (45 off 29) and a late surge from Shimron Hetmyer (61 off 39) guided West Indies to a competitive total 178/8. However, they struggled to find a balance between aggressive scoring and wicket conservation throughout their innings.
India’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, fought back valiantly, managing to restrict the Windies batters’ progress at key moments. Mukesh Kumar, introduced as a death over specialist, made a significant impact by dismantling Jason Holder with a well-executed yorker.
The resurgent Indian team has managed to claw their way back into the series after being down 0-2 in the initial stages. Their sensational comeback sets the stage for an exhilarating series decider on August 13 at the same venue. If India secure victory in the final match, they will etch their name in history by becoming the first team to overturn a 0-2 deficit and emerge triumphant in a 5-match T20I series.
