Gambhir defends Dube’s promotion and flexible T20 batting order

India coach Gautam Gambhir defended sending Shivam Dube in at No. 4 after the all-rounder scored seven from 10 balls in the second T20 international against West Indies in Ranchi. He said India would continue adjusting its batting order to match conditions.

Speaking after the match at JSCA Stadium, Gambhir said Dube had filled that role before and during the World Cup. India wanted him to attack the spin bowling after Ishan Kishan’s dismissal, although Roston Chase had enjoyed success against left-handed batters.

Chase dismissed Dube, who had gone in ahead of Shreyas Iyer. Gambhir acknowledged that successive wickets disrupted India’s middle overs, but said the same approach had also helped the team accelerate in other matches. His position was that the opening places remain fixed while the rest of the order stays adaptable.

Sanju Samson led India’s innings with 82. He reached his half-century from 21 balls and shared a 97-run partnership for the second wicket with Kishan, who made 43 from 22 deliveries before falling to Chase. Samson was dismissed in the 15th over.

Iyer’s 40 from 18 balls and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 44 from 18 then lifted India to 249/5, its highest T20 international total against West Indies. The late acceleration nevertheless proved insufficient to defend the target.

Mayank Yadav took two wickets in the opening over of the chase, but Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford counterattacked against India’s spinners. They added 120 runs from 54 balls. Mayank also dropped Rutherford, giving him a reprieve.

Hope finished unbeaten on 102 from 45 deliveries, with six fours and nine sixes. Rutherford contributed 84 from 37, including seven fours and seven sixes. Romario Shepherd added 34 from 13 as West Indies reached the target in 18.3 overs and drew level at 1-1 in the five-match series.