Twitter Reactions: Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer and Harshal Patel sizzle to hand India a clean sweep over West Indies

India has won nine T20 internationals in a row now after the T20 World Cup 2021 and have managed to whitewash the West Indies side at home in both the shorter formats. Both batting and bowling departments excelled at different stages of the game and the youngsters stepping in has to be one of the biggest positives from the series. India made four changes coming into the game and they still ended up dominating.

Earlier in the day, West Indies won the toss and opted to field at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan coming out to open and the IPL 2021 Orange cap holder was dismissed early for just 4 runs. Kishan and Shreyas Iyer formed a decent partnership with some odd boundaries however, Roston Chase came into the bowling and he immediately had an impact picking up Kishan for a 31- ball 34. Iyer perished for a quickfire 25 while Rohit wasn’t at his best as well.

With four wickets gone for 93 runs in the 14th over mark, Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer joined hands and they went after the bowling straightaway. It was an excellent finish in the last five overs as the West Indies bowlers were taken to the cleaners and Yadav, in particular, was quite fantastic as he brought up his fourth half-century in T20Is. Venkatesh Iyer played a good hand too with a 19 ball-35 with two sixes and four fours to take India to 184/5.

Brillant death bowling from India ensures a cleansweep

In reply, the West Indies side wasn’t off to a good start, having lost both their openers Shai Hope and Kyle Mayers very early and the onus was in-form Nicholas Pooran to take the side home in a big run chase. Deepak Chahar who did the early damage with the ball had suffered a slight niggle having bowled 11 deliveries and India were short of one bowler, although they had the all-rounder in Venkatesh Iyer. Rowman Powell was a big wicket as he was teeing off with a 14 ball 25 until a brilliant catch from Shardul Thakur saw his end.

Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder and Roston Chase were all dismissed quickly and West Indies were in a sort of trouble with six wickets lost for just 100 on the board in 12 overs. Pooran and Romario Shepherd stuck together with a good partnership of 48 and kept the visitors in the hunt while Pooran reached his third consecutive half-century. In the end, the last three overs from India bowlers turned out to be the decisive factor as they got their yorkers in. Harshal Patel was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 22 runs to hand over an India win of 17 runs.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s win:

RoHIT captaincy 👏🇮🇳✅👍🏼 @ImRo45! #INDvWI

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) February 20, 2022

Plan for West Indies batters bowl two dot balls 3rd ball either goes for 4 or 6 or out ..Simple 🎯

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 20, 2022

#SuryaKumarYadav 's talent and skills were well known and it's a delight to see him perform well in international cricket, but #venkateshiyer has been tremendous- 92 of 50 deliveries in the series at an unfamiliar position. Gold pic.twitter.com/KwxRJoyH1N

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 20, 2022

We’ve long know that SKY can play. He is simply amazing when in form like tonight.

— Ian Bishop (@irbishi) February 20, 2022

Surya u beauty @surya_14kumar enjoyed watching it .. lovely to see @venkateshiyer getting into the groove at number 6 .. superb for india 🇮🇳 #INDvWI

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 20, 2022

When a batsman‘s confidence is SKY high, the world is at his feet! 👏 @surya_14kumar #INDvWI

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) February 20, 2022

One of the finest #T20 partnerships I have seen of late. Breathtaking batting show by @surya_14kumar and @venkateshiyer. Unbelievable power hitting!! Incredible skills. Take a bow! Fireworks 💥 at the #EdenGardens. Well done boys… 🇮🇳🏏#BelieveInBlue #INDvWI #SuryakumarYadav pic.twitter.com/u1W4CKeC2q

— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) February 20, 2022

Off side play of surya Kumar Yadav was pleasing to the eye today. He is in top top form.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 20, 2022

Up above ball goes so high
We've found a diamond in the SKY!

PS: Phenomenal batting by @venkateshiyer too 👏🏼 #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/W7Vc543gj1

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 20, 2022

Most runs for West Indies men in T20I bilateral series (max: 3 inns):

177 – Nicholas Pooran v IND, 2022 (so far)
167 – Chris Gayle v SA, 2015#INDvWI

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) February 20, 2022

3-0 🔒🏆
The Indian Team were on song against the Windies!#TeamIndia #INDvWI #LucknowSuperGiants pic.twitter.com/k2fwyGjzFu

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) February 20, 2022

.@ImRo45 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♂️

📸: Disney+Hotstar pic.twitter.com/sPJd7Pz7ED

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 20, 2022

indian men's cricket team in 2022
January – lost everything
February – won in everything (so far)#INDvsWI

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) February 20, 2022

3-0! The margin is more than what it was. West Indies had India in trouble but India found answers. In batting with Sky, Iyer. With the ball in Bhuvi, Chahal, Patel, and now Venky too. Well deserved series winners! Good preparation for World Cup.

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 20, 2022

Rohit has transplanted his slip catching to the outfield.

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) February 20, 2022