West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase has defended white-ball captain Shai Hope against criticism of his performances, arguing that the wicketkeeper-batter continues to be underrated despite his consistent contributions at the highest level.
Chase’s comments followed Hope’s unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls on Friday, as West Indies chased down India’s 249 for five to win the second Twenty20 International by six wickets at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.
West Indies reached 252 for four in 18.3 overs, recording their highest successful run chase in T20 internationals and the second-highest successful chase in the format’s history.
Hope’s explosive innings included another milestone for the West Indies captain, whose century was the second-fastest by a West Indian in T20 internationals. He also shared a 120-run fourth-wicket partnership with Sherfane Rutherford, the highest for West Indies in that position in T20Is.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Chase, who claimed three wickets for 24 runs from his four overs, said Hope’s ability to remain focused despite outside criticism was one of his greatest strengths.
“I think people underrate him a lot. Shai Hope is a guy that can blank out a lot of noise and just focus on what he has to do and I think that is his special skill.”
Chase, who captains West Indies in Test cricket, said Hope continued to deliver for the team even when circumstances were difficult.
“When everything seems to be going wrong, he is still out there giving his best and performing for the team, so I think that is his hallmark skill and he’s a great player.”
Hope’s latest century was his third in five matches during West Indies’ white-ball tour of India. He had scored two centuries in the preceding three-match One-Day International series, which India won 2-1.
Despite those performances, Chase said Hope’s overall record, particularly in limited-overs cricket, did not always receive the recognition it deserved.
“He doesn’t really have the record in red-ball cricket, but as I said, people play down his stats and his record that he has, especially in T20 cricket. Everyone knows he’s great in 50-over cricket and still sometimes people don’t give him the credit; they either say that he bats too slow or he bats for himself.”
Hope has built a substantial record across formats, averaging 51.48 in 158 ODIs, 32.15 in 72 T20 internationals and 27.97 in 49 Test matches for the West Indies.
Chase said his appreciation for Hope extended beyond the numbers, pointing to the captain’s professionalism, preparation and commitment to the team.
“So I’m always happy when I see him do well, because he’s a guy that I know is very professional, puts in the hard work and is the ultimate professional, so when he gets those performances I’m very happy for him.”
Chase also made a significant contribution to Friday’s victory with the ball, taking three wickets while maintaining an economy rate below eight runs per over. He was the only bowler from either team to concede fewer than 10 runs per over.
The victory gave West Indies a major boost on their India tour and highlighted the side’s batting firepower, with Hope leading the successful chase against one of the strongest teams in international cricket.
Source: Village Voice News
