Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel on Saturday (23rd July) took a cheeky jibe at the critics after Team India’s top-order all scored half-centuries in the first ODI against West Indies.
Team India kick-started their limited overs tour of West Indies with a win in the first ODI of the three-match series in Trinidad. The team displayed a top effort with both bat and ball to clinch a close 3-run win and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Asked to bat first, Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan (97) and Shubman Gill (64) took their team off to a flier before Shreyas Iyer (54) chipped in with a half-century. Indian top-order scoring runs was a big sigh of relief as in recent times they haven’t fired.
On account of their half-centuries and vital contributions from the lower-order in Deepak Hooda (27) and Akshar Patel (21), they posted a total of 308 runs.
While defending the target, they came under pressure on various instances but the likes of Mohammed Siraj (2/57), Yuzvendra Chahal (2/58), and Shardul Thakur (2/54) held their nerves well to guide their team to victory.
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Speaking to Cricbuzz, Parthiv Patel, lauded Indian openers Dhawan and Gill for their ‘brilliant’ knocks in the first ODI against West Indies.
“Shikhar Dhawan played a captain's knock. He was very well supported by Shubman Gill; he was chosen ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan, and he played a brilliant knock.
“Usually, when Shikhar Dhawan plays with Rohit Sharma, Rohit takes his time and Shikhar goes out attacking. But today, Shubman played an attacking role, with Dhawan playing as anchor,” Parthiv Patel said.
Patel said that Iyer returning to form and scoring a half-century was positive for India. He took a dig at critics, who raised concerns over the Indian top order not scoring runs.
"Shreyas also came back in form, sort of. He didn't get as many runs as was expected out of him during the IPL and the England tour. But here, he got a fifty. And surprise, surprise, India's top-3 got the fifties. Usually, we talk about India's top-3 not getting runs," he said.
The second ODI between West Indies and India will take place on Sunday (24th July). The visitors would be eyeing a win and would be looking to seal the series.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
