Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase believes Shai Hope remains an underrated cricketer, arguing that the captain’s ability to shut out criticism and deliver under pressure deserves greater recognition. Hope’s unbeaten 102 against India in Ranchi has brought his T20 credentials back into focus ahead of the IPL mini-auction in December.
Speaking after West Indies’ six-wicket win in the second T20I on Friday, Chase praised Hope’s professionalism and his ability to remain focused despite questions over his approach in the shortest format.
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“I think people underrate Shai Hope a lot. He is a guy who can block out a lot of noise and focus on what he has to do. I think that is his special skill because, when everything seems to be going wrong, he is still out there giving his best and performing for the team. I think that is his hallmark,” Chase said.
“He is a great player. He probably doesn’t have the same record in red-ball cricket, but people also play down his statistics and record, especially in T20 cricket. Everyone knows he is great in 50-over cricket, but even then, people sometimes 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 a 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, hitting nine sixes as West Indies completed their highest successful chase in men’s T20Is and the highest successful chase against India in the format. The victory also levelled the five-match series 1-1.
HOPE’S T20 GAME EVOLVES
Hope has faced criticism over his scoring rate, particularly after making 32 off 33 balls against India at the T20 World Cup. Chase, however, pointed to the work Hope has put into becoming a more powerful hitter, focusing on strength and range-hitting to improve his ability to clear the boundary.
“Firstly, he has done a lot of gym work to make himself stronger and more powerful, particularly when it comes to hitting the ball over the ropes and striking it better.
“I think he also practises a lot of range-hitting to get into those strong positions and get his body accustomed to hitting the ball from those positions. I think that has worked for him over the past couple of years, during which he has been working on it tremendously,” Chase said.
Hope’s recent form has extended across formats. He scored 278 runs in three innings during the ODI series against India, including a century in Guwahati and an unbeaten 162 in West Indies’ successful chase of 352 in the final ODI. He followed that with 52 in the opening T20I before producing his match-winning hundred in Ranchi.
IPL RETURN STILL UNCERTAIN
Hope last featured 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, despite his continued contributions for West Indies.
Chase said Hope’s commitment to his craft made his success particularly satisfying.
“I am always happy when I see him do well because I know he is a very professional guy. He puts in the hard work, and he is the ultimate professional. He tries to tick every box and do the right things all the time.
“So, whenever he puts in these performances, I am very happy for him.”
With the IPL mini-auction approaching in December, Hope’s century in Ranchi has strengthened the case for another opportunity in the league. His recent performances have demonstrated his ability to adapt his approach in T20 cricket, though whether that translates into a franchise picking him up remains to be seen.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
