NEW DELHI: Team India skipper Hardik Pandya gave no excuses after losing the five-match T20I series 2-3 against West Indies, but instead made a big statement that losing is good at times as it gives you a lot of learnings.
The Indian batters faltered when it truly counted, as a resolute West Indies side handed captain Pandya his first bilateral series defeat, securing a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the fifth and final T20I in Florida on Sunday.
"We lost the momentum after the 10 overs when I came in and couldn't capitalise on the situation. I believe we are gonna challenge ourselves. We try to get better. In hindsight, it is fine. We don't need to explain much. I know how the boys are within the group. We have enough time to figure it out," Pandya said at the post-match presentation.
"Losing is good at times. On the positive side, we have done a lot of learnings. The boys showed character.
Credit to them. They kept coming and tried something new. It is part of the process. It is what I feel at that moment. If I see a situation, I generally prefer something that comes to mind," Pandya said.
"No rocket science, just my gut feel. Every youngster who is coming in, is showing character. I can't be more happy when I see a youngster come in and put his hand up. A big thank you to everyone. The T20 World Cup would be here. There would be bigger numbers then," Pandya added.
With a 3-2 series victory, West Indies emerged triumphant, thanks to a magnificent unbeaten knock of 85 off 55 balls by opener Brandon King, which made light work of the target in just 18 overs.
A mere day after showcasing a batting clinic on a pitch that seemed tailor-made for them, the Indian batters, except for Suryakumar Yadav's gritty yet effective 61 off 45 balls, struggled and could only muster a sub-par total of 165 for nine, having opted to bat on a worn surface that had progressively slowed down.
