Shreyas Iyer says dew made defending 249 impossible
Iyer blamed dew and a flat pitch for India's inability to defend 249, while Ferguson praised the captain's calm approach and clear plans for bowlers.
India captain Shreyas Iyer said heavy dew and a batting-friendly pitch made it impossible to defend 249 against West Indies in the second T20I in Ranchi. The visitors chased down the target with nine balls to spare, winning by six wickets to level the five-match series.
Iyer said no total could be considered safe when dew affected grip for spinners and reduced margin for error on every delivery. Mayank Yadav took three wickets but Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav struggled as Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford added 120 for the fourth wicket.
Lockie Ferguson praised Iyer's calm leadership and clear communication, saying the captain allows bowlers to execute their plans without interference. Ferguson added that Iyer has handled external pressures well since taking over the T20I captaincy.
CricHubb Take
A captain publicly attributing defeat to conditions rather than execution risks shifting focus from tactical adjustments to external factors that recur across venues.