Kieron Pollard described West Indies’ six-wicket loss to India in the first ODI in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium as a ‘heavy defeat’. The visiting skipper, in the post match presentation, was referring to the fact the Rohit Sharma and co chased 176 runs with 22 overs to spare. 

Indian skipper Sharma, leading the side for the first time in a full-time role, scored 60 runs off 51 balls. Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar picked seven wickets amongst themselves to architect India’s win. 

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Talking about his side’s fallbacks in the match, Pollard said, ” Losing with 22 overs to spare is a heavy defeat. Same old for us – not being able to bat 50 overs. Have to take stock of that. We’ve got to dig deep, get better in terms of technique, myself included.”

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The all-rounder, who plays under the leadership of Rohit Sharma in the IPL (for Mumbai Indians), said that the Windies players should get credit for ‘turning up’. 

“Has been difficult the last couple of days. Getting four wickets there shows if we put some runs we can compete. Toss is a crucial factor. It’s wet out there right now. Tonight it just slid onto the bat. That’s the nature of cricket, we can’t change that.”

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He then praised Jason Holder for the 57-run knock the all-rounder played. 

“You can say that (Holder should bat higher?). 12 months ago guys would not be saying that. He can bat in any position in the order. Yes he can bat at six. He has a role to play for us. He came in a crucial scenario and made a crucial fifty. See if we can work on some technical flaws in the next couple of days and see what happens,” Pollard concluded. 

India and West Indies will lock horns in the second ODI at the same venue on February 9.