"Captain clown" - Fans brutally slam Hardik Pandya's captaincy after India slumps to defeat vs West Indies in 2nd T20I

Hardik Pandya-led Team India suffered a second consecutive loss against West Indies in the ongoing 5-match T20I series. The home side went 2-0 up in the series, courtesy of a 2-wicket victory in the 2nd T20I on Sunday, August 6, at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

The visitors batted first in the contest and reached 152/7 in 20 overs. Playing his second international match, Tilak Varma (51) hit his maiden international half-century and top-scored for his side with another impressive knock. The rest of the batting unit failed to contribute much as they struggled on a sluggish surface.

Hardik Pandya gave a great start to India's defense by scalping two wickets in the very first over. Nicholas Pooran (67) then played a blistering knock and put his side in the driver's seat before perishing in the 14th over.

Yuzvendra Chahal then dismissed Shimron Hetmyer (22) and Jason Holder (0) in the 16th over to bring India back into the contest. Romario Shepherd also got run out in the same over as West Indies found themselves at 129/8 after 16 overs.

Team India suddenly became favourites for the win at that juncture and had momentum. However, West Indies lower-order batters Akeal Hosein (16 in 10 balls) and Alzarri Joseph (10) spoiled their party and finished the chase in 18.5 overs and helped their side win the second T20I.

Fans were dissatisfied with some of Hardik Pandya's captaincy decisions in the match. They were not pleased with his move of not giving Chahal another over after he picked up two wickets and opened up the game for India.

Here are fans' Twitter reactions on the matter:

Baffling for me that Chahal hasn’t finished his quota of 4 overs in both the games. #INDvsWI

“I might be wearing Indian colours, but my heart has the West Indian vibe. I feel bad for what is happening to West Indian cricket and will make sure that we revive it”

- Hardik Pandya pic.twitter.com/SDV1elG4GB

#HardikPandya

Captain cool. Captain Clown. pic.twitter.com/Yj8cVi7GUO

Let's laugh at india and hardik pandya Captaincy 🤣🤣

For resting Virat Kohli they can't even win against westindies who doesn't even qualify for world cup 😭 pic.twitter.com/eSgLmyocGO

When Chahal was bowling well, Hardik Pandya stopped him and brought Mukesh Kumar.

This guy came to replace Rohit Sharma and lost back to back matches against West Indies. 🫣🫣 pic.twitter.com/zpAQWCPSRG

Meet this our So called next captain Chapri Hardik Pandya,this year he Captained few matches,in those matches-

- Lost against Sri Lanka in home condition ✅
-Failed to defend 175 runs in 15 overs with 4 gun Bowlers ✅
-Now he lost against Finished WI ✅

Sack him from VC @BCCI pic.twitter.com/nQO1WeQzKg

History:-

Hardik Pandya became the first ever Indian Captain to lose 2 matches in a series against West Indies!

"It's OK to be Unique" pic.twitter.com/YR32JCGbj6

Biggest Mistake by Captain Hardik Pandya, when Wi needed 21 runs in 18 balls , he should give bowl to YUzi .

So Poor Captaincy by Him !

Wi won by 2 wicket .

After 2016 India lost 2 CONSECUTIVE matches vs Wi.

#IndvsWi #WivInd #HardikPandya
#Chahal #Mukeshkumar #RaviBishnoi pic.twitter.com/kTcI5w84Kl

Hardik Pandya in the T-20 series: pic.twitter.com/uLYkeL0TiB

There was no chance of India winning the game if WI batted their remaining deliveries.

An unbelievable blunder from Hardik Pandya as he decided not to give Chahal the ball after bowling a double wicket over.

Sometimes it's not okay to be unique. You need to follow basics.

Biggest Mistake by Captain Hardik Pandya,when Wi needed 21 runs in 18 balls,he should give bowl to Chahal.

So Poor Captaincy by Him !

Wi won by 2 wicket .

After 2016 India lost 2 CONSECUTIVE matches vs Wi.

P.S. :- He didn't Give bowl to Axar

#IndvsWi #WivInd #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/0d5SMYRRfy

I don't blame Mukesh
I blame Hardik Pandya for not giving to chahal one more over.

This Chapri cannot be the captain of team India pic.twitter.com/Wq6fNM4k8u

Just Hardik Pandya things 😂😂😭
#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/RhXt3iKaqu

Terrible captaincy from Hardik Pandya to not give Yuzvendra Chahal his fourth over. But yeah, people will blame Dravid for it 🤷‍♂️ #WIvIND

This Statement is the perfect example of Self-Trolling😭😭😭

#WIvIND #INDvsWI
#IndianCricket #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/wwA1B714Lq

"To be very honest, not a pleasing effort with the bat"- Team India captain Hardik Pandya after losing 2nd T20I vs WI

Speaking at the post-match presentation after the 2nd T20I, Hardik Pandya blamed the batting department for the loss. He reckoned that they scored a below-par total on the surface and felt 160-170 would have been decent.

Pandya said:

"To be very honest, not a pleasing effort with the bat, could've done lot better and the wicket was playing on the slower side, we were not good enough to manage that and get to a good total, like 160 or 170."

He added:

"The current combination we have, we will have to bat with seven batters, trust with our top seven to do well and on a good day, you don't need much batters but we need to figure out what we can do about 8,9 and 10, but batters need to take more responsibility. The way he's (Tilak Varma) been batting, that's something we're looking for and left-hander, gives us the combination to have left right always in the middle, going forward he'll keep getting better."

Both teams will square off in the third T20I of the series on Tuesday, August 8, at the same venue.