Roston Chase, West Indies' off-spin bowling all-rounder, has come out strongly in defence of skipper Shai Hope, saying the captain is significantly undervalued despite possessing a rare mental ability to block out external pressure — a quality Chase believes was on full display during Hope's match-winning performance in the second T20I against India in Ranchi on 10 October.

Hope's Historic Knock Sets Up Record Chase

An electric Shai Hope blazed an unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls as the West Indies overhauled India's imposing total of 249/5 with six wickets to spare at the JSCA International Stadium, levelling the five-match series 1-1. The successful run-chase marked a record pursuit for the visiting side. Notably, Hope had also led a mammoth chase just days earlier, stroking an unbeaten 162 to guide West Indies past 353 in the third ODI against India in New Chandigarh.

What Roston Chase Said About Hope

'I think about Shai Hope, people underrate him a lot. But Shai Hope is a guy that he can blank out a lot of noise and just focus on what he has to do and I think that's his special skill. Because when everything seems to be going wrong, he's still out there giving his best and performing for the team,' Chase told reporters at the conclusion of the game.

Chase also dismissed persistent criticism that Hope either bats too slowly or plays for personal milestones. 'Everyone knows he's great in 50-over cricket and still sometimes people don't give him the credit. They always say he either bats too slow or he bats for himself. He puts in the hard work and he's the ultimate professional. He tries to tick every box and do the right things all the time,' Chase added.

The Gym Work Behind Hope's Power-Hitting Transformation

Chase shed light on the physical transformation that has turned Hope from a technically sound accumulator into a genuine power-hitter in the shortest format. 'He's done a lot of gym work to make himself stronger in terms of hitting the ball over the ropes. He also practises a lot of range hitting to get in those strong positions,' he revealed. The evolution was evident as Hope's strike rate in this innings was well over 220, underscoring the work put in behind the scenes.

Hope-Rutherford Stand: The Turning Point

A pivotal 120-run partnership between Hope and Sherfane Rutherford, who contributed 84 off 37 balls, effectively dismantled India's hopes of defending the total. 'To chase 250 in any conditions, any ball in attack, I think that was a tremendous effort. I think it's a record chase for us. It was just a great feeling and it came out in the celebration,' Chase said of the partnership.

Chase's Own Bowling: Adapting on the Fly

Chase finished with figures of 3 for 24, accounting for Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shivam Dube. He revealed that a boundary off his opening delivery, hit by Sanju Samson, prompted an immediate tactical rethink. 'I told myself probably the wicket is a bit too good to be using the wicket consistently. So I thought I had to mix up in terms of using the wicket and then going for the yorkers as well,' he explained.

'When they move, you have to be able to watch them as long as possible and adjust and move with them as well. Sometimes you have to take the stumps out of the equation and just try to keep them and not let them get too much room to free their arms and it worked out,' Chase concluded. With the series now level at 1-1, all eyes will turn to the third T20I as both sides look to gain the upper hand.