West Indies all-rounder Keemo Paul credited slower-ball variations as the decisive tactical weapon in the visitors' 24-run win over India in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday, 15 October, levelling the five-match series 2-2. Paul's 5 for 41 held India to 223 in 19.3 overs while chasing 247/3, a total anchored by Shai Hope's magnificent century.

Paul's Match-Winning Performance

Keemo Paul has now become the first West Indies bowler to register multiple five-wicket hauls in T20 Internationals. His 5 for 41 in Hyderabad is his second T20I fifer, following a stunning 5 for 15 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2018 — a gap of nearly eight years between his two landmark hauls. Paul executed his plans with clinical precision, keeping a disciplined line and varying his pace to stifle India's hard-hitting batting lineup.

Why Slower Balls Worked in Hyderabad

Paul explained that surface conditions at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium particularly suited slower deliveries. 'As bowlers, the slower balls helped us here. On other wickets and at other grounds, we haven't been getting much grip, but it worked here,' he said at the post-match press conference. He noted that the pitch offered occasional grip from one or two deliveries, though it was 'pretty good' overall for batting — making the slower-ball execution all the more critical.

The Dew Factor and Conditions

A crucial factor in both the third and fourth T20Is was the absence of dew, Paul observed. 'Some pretty big scores have been chased in this series, but I think a key factor is that there was no dew in Hyderabad. When there is dew, it becomes quite hard for teams bowling second,' he said. The third match in Indore, which India won by 14 runs, similarly saw no dew — suggesting the series has been shaped as much by atmospheric conditions as by individual brilliance.

Team Strategy and Long Planning Sessions

Paul also shed light on West Indies' preparation, revealing that the touring side held extensive team meetings to map out tactics against India's explosive batters. 'We sit together and discuss them, and we have some pretty long team meetings. I knew what I wanted to do, what my field settings would be and what my plan was,' he said, adding that he would not reveal the specifics. The structured approach appears to have paid dividends, with Shai Hope's 100+ providing the platform and Paul's five-fer ensuring the target proved just out of reach for the hosts.

Series Finale in Bengaluru

The five-match series is now perfectly poised at 2-2, with the decider scheduled for Saturday in Bengaluru. West Indies will head to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on the back of a confidence-boosting win, while India will look to regroup after surrendering a series lead. With the track record of high-scoring encounters in this series — and the dew variable again potentially in play — the finale promises to be a compelling contest.