India captain Shreyas Iyer admitted that inaccurate execution of line and length cost the team the fourth T20I against West Indies. Nevertheless, he supported the team's attacking tactics despite the 24-run defeat, which tied the five-match series at 2:2 in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The West Indies team posted a massive score of 247/3. This total was secured by an unbeaten 50-ball contribution from captain Shay Hope (102 runs) and Sherfane Rutherford (49 runs off 26 balls without dismissal). Following this, Kim Powell took five wickets, restricting India to 223 runs and setting up a decisive final match in Bengaluru.
Commenting on the loss, Iyer noted that Indian bowlers failed to effectively execute their plans, which significantly complicated the chase, even with a positive intent in attack.
Iyer stated: 'Yes, it all started with the bowling. I think we executed our line and length poorly, and ultimately, when chasing 250, you need to operate according to a certain plan when you go in pursuit. So I like our approach when we were chasing, but we were unlucky that we couldn't execute our bowling plans, and we lost a bit there.'
When asked if Abhishek Sharma's limited time affected his start, Iyer dismissed the suggestion, pointing instead to the disciplined bowling of the West Indies and the assistance provided by the pitch surface.
He added: 'Not particularly. We were still scoring 12 runs per over at that point. They just executed their plan, and the pitch also offered something. The ball bounced a little, and they utilized the pitch very well. So, I have to give credit; their execution was flawless.'
Iyer also acknowledged that the pitch surface had some influence on the bowlers, especially in the middle overs when the ball slowed down and sometimes offered an uneven bounce.
He explained: 'Yes, it slowed down a bit, and there was some strange bounce. But yes, knowing that, I feel the bowlers understood it. They are bowlers, and how they played according to the pitch was what mattered, especially in those middle overs.'
The Indian captain praised the West Indies for regaining control after India started accelerating the chase, noting that the opponent's ability to react under pressure became decisive. Iyer concluded: 'Even if the momentum shifted in our favor, the ability to recover was first-class, and I am confident the fifth match will be interesting.'
Despite the loss, Iyer highlighted India's ability to score heavily on the Hyderabad pitch as proof that the team's aggressive batting approach remains valid. West Indies' total of 247/3 was achieved after India failed to contain the visitors' scoring rate, with Hope and Rutherford adding an unbeaten 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Iyer emphasized: 'Obviously, you know that scoring 220, especially when chasing, and then scoring 250, you can see the approach and attitude of every person. So the approach will remain the same.'
He stressed that before the deciding match, India will focus on execution rather than overthinking plans. 'I believe that going forward, we don't need to think too much about our bowling, but it's all about execution and having that fresh mindset when you come on that day and manage to seize the moment.'