The Indian cricket fans were pretty hopeful that the Indian cricket team would script history by winning the fifth T20I after which it will become the first team to win the series (5-match) after bouncing back from 0-2 but things didn’t happen as expected and West Indies made history by defeating India in a series for the first time in the last 17 years.
Interestingly, the last time West Indies defeated India was in 2006 by 4-1, at that time Rahul Dravid was the skipper of the team and now when they have registered series win after 17 years, Rahul Dravid is the head coach of the Indian squad.
If we talk about the fifth T20I, it was played yesterday at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida. After batting first, India put up a total of 165/9 in their stipulated 20 overs. Suryakumar Yadav was the highest scorer for team India as he played a superb knock of 61 runs (45 balls) and his innings included 4 fours & 3 sixes.
This total was not a competitive one on this pitch, though West Indies lost Kyle Mayers quite early yet Brandon King (85 runs not out, 55 balls, 5 fours & 6 sixes) and Nicholas Pooran (47 runs, 35 balls, 1 four & 4 sixes) played brilliant knocks and prepared the platform for their team’s win. Shai Hope also played a useful knock of 22 runs and ensured that his team registered a comfortable victory by 8 wickets.
After this loss, the Indian cricket fans started talking about Hardik’s comment when Samuel Badree, the presenter asked him about being a skipper who lost a series in West Indies. It happened before the 3rd ODI which was the decider as the series was levelled at 1-1. In response to Samuel Badree’s question, Hardik said that it’s fine with him as he likes to be unique.
The online users started saying that he did what he said, here are some selected reactions:
Hardik Pandya " it's unique listening the headline World no 1 team gets trashed by the WC unqualified team "#INDvsWI #WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/tCOryBB4Y5
— Tanishq Ganu (@smart__leaks) August 13, 2023
“The Patient died. But we are learning”#HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/kF0ddZ1MoZ
— Piyush Sharma (@misterpiyush) August 14, 2023
Captain cool. Captain Clown. pic.twitter.com/Yj8cVi7GUO
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) August 6, 2023
Hardik Pandya the man from barbados has finally done it for west indies
The first T20I series win against india
OK to be Unique
#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/eUdC9iAMHk— Aditya (@Aditya_rs_) August 13, 2023
“It’s good to be unique!”
– Hardik Pandya pic.twitter.com/TupeWrg6Sp
— Chandler! 🇮🇳 (@TheRainPoet) August 14, 2023
“It’s okay to be unique”
– Hardik ‘captain’ Pandya
At one point he was 8 of 16 balls. #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/pUXxis3bWy
— Gov (@dreamgov) August 13, 2023
Captaincy in Indian cricket team….#CWC23 #HardikPandya Dhoni #ElvishYadav𓃵 #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/eYgVolO9cy
— Cricket Star (@CricketStar24x7) August 7, 2023
Difference is clear :
Hardik Pandya isn't even f00t of Rohit Sharma . #HardikPandya #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/BBFXOFZGX6— S ∆ U R ∆ B H (@YadavSaurabh_45) August 14, 2023
Well, hopefully the Indian team management will be able to resolve the concerns as soon as possible otherwise it would be useless to expect team India to win the Asia Cup or the World Cup.