On This Day — Jaiswal and Gill’s Record Opening Stand Powers India to 9-Wicket Win Over West Indies

Chasing a modest target, the Indian openers stole the show. Yashasvi Jaiswal played a brilliant knock, showcasing his fearless stroke play, while Shubman Gill anchored the innings with composure and elegance. Their unbeaten partnership ensured India crossed the line with ease, leaving the West Indies bowlers searching for answers.

India vs West Indies: 4th T20I on 12th August 2023

West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first on the batting-friendly pitch at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill on August 12, 2023. They aimed to set a challenging total against India in the fourth T20I. The innings began with a fiery start from opener Kyle Mayers, who attacked from the first ball. He smashed 17 runs off just 7 balls, hitting two fours and a massive six. His aggressive approach gave West Indies early momentum, but Arshdeep Singh ended his stay in the second over.

Mayers edged a delivery to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, leaving West Indies at 19 for 1. Brandon King took over keeping the scoreboard moving with a steady 18 runs off 16 balls. He struck two sixes, showing his intent to dominate the powerplay. However, Arshdeep struck again in the sixth over as King was caught by Kuldeep Yadav at 54 for 2. The powerplay yielded 55 runs, but the loss of two wickets put pressure on the middle order.

Shai Hope stepped up to stabilize the innings. He played a measured yet attacking knock, scoring 45 runs off 29 balls with three fours and two sixes. His ability to find gaps and clear the boundary kept the West Indies’ run rate healthy. The team reached 50 runs in 5.3 overs thanks to Hope’s calm presence. India’s spinners soon changed the game’s flow. Kuldeep Yadav was introduced in the seventh over and dismissed Nicholas Pooran for just 1 run.

Pooran expected to provide fireworks edged a fireworks-edged turning delivery to Suryakumar Yadav at slip. In the next over, Kuldeep removed captain Rovman Powell for 1, caught by Shubman Gill. These quick wickets left the West Indies struggling at 57 for 4, disrupting their plans for a big total. The middle order needed someone to step up, and Shimron Hetmyer answered the call. Hetmyer played a match-defining innings, scoring 61 runs off 39 balls. His knock included three fours and four sixes, blending caution with aggression. He targeted loose balls and found boundaries with ease, especially against the spinners.

Hetmyer’s fifty off 35 balls was a turning point, pushing West Indies past 100 runs in the 12th over. He formed small partnerships to keep the innings alive. Romario Shepherd joined him briefly, scoring 9 runs off 6 balls with a six. Axar Patel dismissed Shepherd in the 15th over, caught by Samson, leaving the West Indies at 118 for 6. Jason Holder came in but managed only 3 runs before Mukesh Kumar bowled him in the 16th over. At 123 for 7, West Indies were in danger of collapsing, but Hetmyer kept fighting.

In the final overs, Hetmyer accelerated, aiming to push the total higher. He found support from Odean Smith, who remained not out on 15 off 12 balls, hitting a six. Akeal Hosein contributed 5 not out off 2 balls, including a four. West Indies crossed 150 in the 18th over, and Hetmyer’s aggressive play kept the run rate above 8. He fell in the final over and caught off Arshdeep’s bowling, but not before ensuring a competitive score. West Indies finished at 178 for 8 in 20 overs with a run rate of 8.90. The innings relied heavily on Hetmyer’s resilience as the top order’s early dismissals and middle-order collapse limited their potential.

India’s bowling was disciplined and effective. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with 3 wickets for 38 runs in four overs. He dismissed Mayers, King, and Hetmyer at crucial moments. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout spinner, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs. His dismissals of Pooran and Powell swung the momentum toward India. Axar Patel claimed 1 wicket for 39 runs, removing Shepherd, while Yuzvendra Chahal took 1 for 36, getting Hope. Mukesh Kumar grabbed 1 for 25, dismissing Holder. Hardik Pandya bowled one over, conceding 14 runs without a wicket. The bowlers delivered 38 dot balls with Kuldeep’s tight spell proving particularly effective. India’s ability to take wickets at regular intervals kept West Indies from posting a massive total despite Hetmyer’s heroics.

Chasing 179, India’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill put on a batting masterclass. Jaiswal was named Player of the Match as he scored an unbeaten 84 off 51 balls at a strike rate of 164.70. He smashed 11 fours and three sixes, showing fearless intent from the start. His ability to find boundaries and punish loose deliveries set the tone for the chase. Gill was equally destructive, scoring 77 off 47 balls with three fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 163.82. Their 165-run opening partnership overwhelmed the West Indies’ bowlers, making the target look easy. The powerplay was explosive with India racing to 66 for no loss in six overs. They reached 50 runs in just 30 balls with Jaiswal contributing 34 while Gill added 14 and 2 extras.

By the 10th over during the drinks break, India were 100 for no loss. Jaiswal was on 47 and Gill on 49, showing their dominance. Gill reached his fifty off 30 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. His aggressive strokeplay kept the pressure on the West Indies. The pair crossed 150 runs in the 14th over, maintaining a high run rate. In the 13th over, India reviewed a wicket decision for Gill, which was upheld, allowing him to continue his onslaught. West Indies’ bowlers struggled to find answers. Obed McCoy was expensive, conceding 32 runs in three overs without a wicket. Akeal Hosein bowled four overs for 31 runs but couldn’t break through. Jason Holder gave away 33 runs in four overs, also wicketless.

Romario Shepherd finally provided a breakthrough in the 16th over. He dismissed Gill, caught by Shai Hope, ending the massive partnership. At that point, India needed just 14 runs off 27 balls. Tilak Varma came in at number three and remained not out on 7 off 5 balls, hitting a four. India completed the chase at 179 for 1 in 17 overs with a run rate of 10.52. They finished with 18 balls to spare, showcasing their dominance. The West Indies bowling attack lacked the edge to challenge India’s openers. Shepherd’s 1 for 35 was the only wicket while Odean Smith leaked 30 runs in two overs. Rovman Powell bowled one over for 13 runs, including a no-ball.

India’s chase was smooth and aggressive. Jaiswal and Gill’s partnership was the key as they attacked from the outset. The powerplay set a strong foundation, and their consistent boundary-hitting in the middle overs ensured West Indies had no way back. Jaiswal’s fearless approach and Gill’s fluent strokeplay made the chase look effortless. The successful review for Gill was a minor hurdle, but it didn’t derail India’s momentum.