Belief and partnerships: How Shai Hope shaped West Indies' chase in Ranchi
Shai Hope has found a happy hunting ground in India, and his latest masterclass in Ranchi was built on a familiar foundation: belief, calculated aggression and the value of batting partnerships.
The West Indies captain struck an unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls to lead his side to a stunning six-wicket win over India in the second T20I on Friday, completing a record chase of 250 to level the five-match series 1-1. It was the highest successful T20I chase against India and the second-highest overall in the format.
IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: Highlights | Scorecard
Yet, for Hope, the defining feature of the innings was not just the power hitting that dismantled India’s bowling attack, but the partnerships that kept the chase alive.
“Thing about cricket, I really believe that we need to bat a lot better in partnerships. It’s something that we tend to lack every now and again,” Hope said after the match.
BELIEF IN THE CHASE
West Indies’ pursuit suffered an early setback when Mayank Yadav struck twice in successive deliveries, dismissing Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer. With 250 required, the visitors needed composure as much as firepower.
Hope found that balance alongside Sherfane Rutherford, with the pair adding 120 runs off just 54 balls to transform the contest. Rutherford’s 84 off 37 deliveries, featuring seven fours and seven sixes, allowed Hope to pick his moments without losing touch with the required rate.
“When we got that partnership there with myself and Rovman, just got some more impetus into the innings,” Hope said, before acknowledging Rutherford’s contribution.
“Then obviously Sherfane came and did what he did, playing really well with the bat now and just gave us that spark that we needed to get over the line today.”
Hope had raced to a 24-ball half-century, but he did not feel the need to match Rutherford shot for shot as his partner took on the attack. Instead, he focused on keeping the chase within reach and avoiding unnecessary risks.
“As long as we kept going at the rate to keep up with the game, then I didn’t need to take any unnecessary risks,” he explained. “I thought that we would go really nicely, so just about calculating that chase as best as we could in the back end.”
Romario Shepherd’s unbeaten 34 off 13 balls provided the final flourish, as West Indies plundered 41 runs across the 17th and 18th overs to seal a remarkable victory in 18.3 overs.
INDIA’S HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
The century extended Hope’s extraordinary run in India. After consecutive centuries in the preceding ODI series and a half-century in the first T20I, the West Indies skipper continued to underline his comfort in conditions that can challenge even the most accomplished batters.
He has now scored a century in Test, ODI and T20I cricket in India, a rare achievement that reflects his consistency across formats.
Hope, however, was reluctant to label this his best run of form. Instead, he pointed to the preparation behind his performances and the importance of remaining mentally fresh.
“Maybe I could say it’s a good streak I’m having right now, but I just think the way I’m preparing, the way I’m trying to stay mentally fresh and ready, is giving me the best chance of performing. I just hope it continues along.”
Even as his unbeaten century carried West Indies past a formidable target, Hope refused to entertain the idea of feeling invincible.
“No, definitely not. I always try to keep myself as neutral as I can.”
For a captain who has made run-scoring in India look increasingly familiar, that grounded approach may be as important as the big hits. In Ranchi, Hope backed himself, trusted his partners and turned a daunting chase into a historic West Indies triumph.
– Ends
