Arshdeep Singh (PTI Photo)
Hope had been in sensational form across the ODI and T20I series, scoring back-to-back centuries in the 50-over format before producing a half-century in the opening T20I and an unbeaten 102 in the second. But the West Indies captain managed just five runs in Indore, bowled by Arshdeep in the second over as India restricted the visitors to 209/7 while defending 223. India won by 14 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with Arshdeep finishing with three wickets, including the crucial dismissals of Hope, Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul. Arshdeep credited the entire bowling attack for maintaining pressure while defending a formidable total, pointing to the collective effort that helped India bounce back after West Indies chased down 250 in the previous match.
So, it’s good fun,” he said. I got you run out,” he said. The pacer said he continues to work on his batting, too, as India look for useful contributions from the lower order.
“I bowled very well. Mayank kept the pressure from the other end and all the six bowlers, all chipped in and bowled very well. It feels good when you get a little pressure for executing plans. “I would like to apologise to Axar bhai. Sorry, Axar bhai.
“Before the match, we had planned how to keep things tight to him and when you execute that plan in the match, it feels good when you get the result. I am grateful to the coaches for working through the plan and they told me that I can use this in the match and that thing got executed,” Arshdeep said in a video posted on bcci.tv on Monday.
“First of all, congratulations to India. The West Indies found a little bit of range with the ball after about over number eight through Roston Chase, then Springer, then Motie, but those runs at the back end by Prince Yadav proved crucial. Then we saw the yorkers. Shreyas Iyer mentioned at the toss that he brought Prince Yadav back into the team for the first time in the series so they could get guys bowling those yorkers and wide lines, and those are critical plans.