Dravid and Pandya wanted Mukesh Kumar to bat in the last over, but Chahal walked in instead

Team India lost the opening T20 match against the West Indies by four runs on Thursday in Trinidad. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after limiting Hardi Pandya’s youthful team to 145/9 in 20 overs. The visitors found themselves in an odd position with Yuzvendra Chahal just before narrowly losing, confusing the spectators.

After Kuldeep Yadav was out for only five runs by Romario Shepherd, India needed 10 runs off the last five deliveries. When the former returned to the locker room, Chahal hurried in to learn that Hardik Pandya, the captain, and coach Rahul Dravid preferred newcomer Mukesh Kumar to bat at No. 10.

Mukesh was rushing to join Arshdeep Singh in the center as Chahal made the decision to go back as soon as he received the word from the dressing room. However, the umpires stepped in and prevented the anticipated change in batting.

The regulations say that once a batsman enters the field at the fall of a wicket, he cannot return and send another, therefore it was too late to adjust his batting strategy. As a result, Chahal remained at the crease and began play with a single off his first ball.

Arshdeep scored a single before being run out on the last ball with 7 needed off the final two balls. The West Indies triumphed by four runs despite Mukesh, the next man in, barely managing a single on the last ball.

India self-destructed to finish at 145 for nine in 20 overs with 37 required off the last 30 balls and six wickets in hand. In the 16th over, Holder bowled a maiden, removing the stumps of India’s captain Hardik Pandya (19) before Sanju Samson (12) was run out. This allowed the West Indies to get back into the game.

Varma’s courageous 39 off 22 balls, which was his first appearance for India, was the only positive aspect of the chase. The 20-year-old southpaw made his debut in international cricket by dispatching the West Indies’ fastest bowler, Alzarri Joseph, for back-to-back sixes over deep square leg.

Tail-ender Due to the sluggish over rate of the home side, Arshdeep Singh (12) used an extra fielder in the circle to hit two fours in the last over to make the game more intriguing.