Shai Hope’s IPL comeback in limelight after T20I record chase against India
West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase believes Shai Hope remains an underrated cricketer and says the captain’s ability to shrug off criticism and play under pressure deserves more recognition. Hope’s unbeaten 102 against India in Ranchi brought his T20 credentials back into the limelight ahead of the IPL mini-auction in December.
Speak after West Indies won by six wickets in the second T20I on Friday, Chase praised Hope’s professionalism and his ability to stay focused despite questions about his approach in the shortest format.
IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: Highlights | Scorecard
“I think people underestimate Shai Hope a lot. He’s a guy who can block out a lot of noise and focus on what he’s supposed to do. I think that’s his special skill because when things seem to be going wrong, he’s still going out there and doing his best and performing for the team. I think that’s his hallmark,” Chase said.
“He’s a great player. He probably doesn’t have the same record in red-ball cricket, but people also discount his stats and records, especially in T20 cricket. Everyone knows he’s great in 50-over-50 cricket, but still sometimes people don’t give him enough credit. They always say he either bats too slowly or bats for himself,” he added.
Hope’s innings came in the chase of 250, with West Indies recovering after losing three wickets for 58 runs. He and Sherfane Rutherford added 120 for the fourth wicket, with Rutherford smashing 84 off 37 balls. Hope finished unbeaten on 102 off 45 and hit nine sixes as West Indies completed their most successful chase in men’s T20Is and their most successful chase against India in the format. The victory evened the five-game series 1:1.
THE GAME OF T20 HOPE IS EVOLVING
Hope faced criticism for his scoring, especially after he made 32 off 33 balls in the T20 World Cup against India. However, Chase pointed to the work Hope has put in to become a stronger hitter and focus on power and reach to improve his ability to clear the boundary.
“Firstly, he’s done a lot of work in the gym to get stronger and more powerful, especially hitting the ball over the ropes and hitting better.
“I think he’s also been doing a lot of long distance practice to get into those strong positions and to get his body used to hitting the ball from those positions. I think that’s paid off for him the last couple of years where he’s worked on it tremendously,” Chase said.
Hope’s recent form has spread across formats. During the ODI series against India, he scored 278 runs in three innings, including a century in Guwahati and an unbeaten 162 in West Indies’ successful chase of 352 in the ODI final. He followed it up with 52 in the opening T20I before producing his match-winning hundred in Ranchi.
IPL RETURN STILL UNSURE
Hope last appeared in the IPL for Delhi Capitals in 2024, scoring 183 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 150. He has not returned to the tournament since then, despite his consistent contributions for the West Indies.
Chase said Hope’s dedication to his craft made his success particularly satisfying.
“I’m always happy to see him do well because I know he’s a very professional guy. He puts in the hard work and he’s the ultimate professional. He tries to check every box and do the right things all the time.”
“So whenever he puts in those performances, I’m very happy for him.
With the December IPL mini-auction looming, Hope’s century in Ranchi bolstered another league opportunity. His recent performances have shown his ability to adapt his approach in T20 cricket, although it remains to be seen whether this will translate into a franchise picking him up.
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