'We are a world champion team, so we want to keep improving' - Gautam Gambhir after India's defeat to West Indies in 2nd T20I

India suffered a six-wicket defeat to West Indies in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, October 9, 2026. The hosts posted 249 for 5 in 20 overs, but West Indies chased down the target with six wickets and nine balls to spare. The result levelled the five-match series at 1-1, with three games still to go.

India's batting performance was built on a strong total, though Roston Chase claimed three wickets for 24 runs from four overs, dismissing Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shivam Dube. Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 off 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford's 84 off 37 deliveries powered the West Indies' chase. The successful pursuit marked West Indies' highest successful T20I chase, with the match producing 501 runs and 33 sixes across 38.3 overs.

"You don't shrug off any defeat. If you want to keep improving, you don't want to put anything under the carpet. We are a world champion team, so we want to keep improving," Gambhir said in the post-match press conference (via Cricbuzz).

Gambhir on the defeat and the need to improve

Gambhir highlighted the challenging bowling conditions that India faced during the West Indies innings. The JSCA International Stadium Complex presented a flat pitch with dew, making it difficult for the bowlers to maintain control. India had made early inroads, reducing West Indies to 5 for 2 in the first over and 58 for 3 inside the sixth over, but the opposition recovered strongly in the middle overs.

"And obviously these are tough conditions to bowl. We know that flat wickets with the dew, obviously it's tough. But we need to figure out the way…to try and stop the opposition, especially when they lost two wickets in the first over and then lost three in the first six," Gambhir said.

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The third T20I is scheduled to be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, October 11. Another run-fest is expected to be on the cards.