Tactics: How India Outsmarted West Indies In 3rd T20I

India defeated West Indies by 17 runs in the 3rd T20I to clinch the three-match series 3-0 despite playing with some new faces in the playing XI and missing out on regulars. 

How did India once again manage to outclass the West Indies in a format they are best known for? Let's deep dive. 

As expected, India made four changes to the side with Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Avesh Khan, and Shardul Thakur coming in. Interestingly, India also changed the opening combination with Gaikwad and Ishan charging in. 

The idea was clear that India wanted to experiment and give game time to three players - Gaikwad, Ishan, and Shreyas - which is why Rohit Sharma pushed himself at number four. However, keeping everything aside, this could have been a messed up situation and almost was. 

Gaikwad - the spin hitter - got out early and Shreyas walked in, another spin hitter. West Indies bowled the first five overs with seamers and Ishan - the pace hitter - scored a few boundaries after having two off games. 

Shreyas made use of the powerplay to open his arms against pace. Sensing Ishan getting too comfortable at the crease, West Indies introduced spin in the 6th over. To shield Ishan from the spin and continue the run-scoring, Shreyas had to up his gear, resulting in his wicket in the 9th over. 

Now, Rohit Sharma walked in at number 4 - not his usual position plus an unfavorable matchup. Ishan scored 16 runs against spin 15 balls before getting out, leaving India in a tricky position with three wickets down for 66 runs at the halfway stage. 

Suryakumar Yadav came in and attacked spin but Rohit continued to struggle at the other end. Pollard gambled in the 14th over by bringing in left pacer Dominic Drakes. A struggling Rohit had the opportunity to let loose against a pacer but the gamble worked and the Indian captain got out in the same over. 

But till then - 5th over to 13th over - West Indies had finished overs of their two key spinners. Despite having Fabian Allen, he only bowled one over (15th) giving five runs as the teams entered the final overs. 

Suryakumar and Venkatesh Iyer, two dynamic batters, once again made use of the West Indian pacers lacking control and smacked 91 runs in 37 balls to push India to a competitive total of 184/5. 

India had gambled in the bowling as well, playing one spinner - Ravi Bishnoi. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar not playing, Deepak Chahar bowled the first over and got Kyle Mayers out and in the next over, made Shai Hope his next victim. Unfortunately for him and India, Chahar got injured.

With India in the mood exploring players, Venkatesh Iyer stepped up. At the other end, Rovman Powell made full use of Avesh Khan and Shardul Thakur in the powerplay as West Indies smacked 68 runs in the first six overs. 

Nicholas Pooran was also at the crease and Bishnoi was introduced in the sixth over. India, like in the previous two T20Is, operated middle overs through bowlers with slow variations and spinners. 

West Indian batters, who like pace on the bowl struggled, and Pooran had to drop anchor. India got four wickets in the middle overs and gave away 57 runs from the over 7th to 15th. 

Only Avesh gave pace to the batters and he was hammered for 42 runs in his four overs. Pooran also attacked Bishnoi but the leg spinner was bowled smartly and didn't allow the West Indian to settle. 

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In the death overs as well, Harshal and Shardul kept changing the pace and West Indies struggled to reach the target and fell short by 17 runs.