Indian fans criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on social media after West Indies beat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The result levelled the five-match series at 2-2. Many fans blamed flat pitches that favour batters and leave bowlers with little help.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first. West Indies captain Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls and powered his side to 247 for 3. Keemo Paul then took 5 for 41 as India fell short in the chase. Sanju Samson hit 56 off 23 balls and Tilak Varma made 43, but India finished on 223 all out.
Former India commentator and presenter Harsha Bhogle shared his thoughts on the pitches. “Funnily I am yearning for a 170-180 game with bowlers getting their own back. Maybe some day in the distance when we redefine what a good pitch is,” he wrote.
Fans reacted more sharply. One user wrote that the T20Is have become “Flat pitches, 100-run powerplays and bowlers reduced to mere spectators.” Another said, “Well done, bcci finally you destroy indian cricket by making flat pitches.” A post complained about the scoring, “Every other T20 match is turning into a 250+ run fest. Batters are dominating, bowlers are getting smashed and the pitches offer absolutely nothing for the bowlers. This isn’t entertaining anymore.”
Others mocked the board with a short post: “Or bnao flat pitches [Make more flat pitches].”
India’s bowlers have leaked heavy runs across the tour. West Indies scored 405 for 7 in the second ODI in Guwahati, though India chased down 406 for an eight-wicket win. In the third ODI in New Chandigarh, West Indies chased 352 and won by five wickets, which gave them their highest successful run chase in ODIs. India still won that series 2-1.
The T20Is have followed the same pattern. West Indies chased 250 in the second T20I in Ranchi, finishing on 252 for 4 in 18.3 overs, with Hope scoring 102 off 45 balls. In the third T20I in Indore, India won by 14 runs after West Indies made 209 for 7. In the fourth match, West Indies passed 200 again. India won the first T20I by eight wickets, with Iyer scoring an unbeaten century.
The series now goes to a decider. India and West Indies play the fifth T20I at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17.
