Kolkata, March 2 (NationPress) - West Indies captain Shai Hope acknowledged that his team missed crucial opportunities after their aspirations for the semifinals were dashed by India during a virtual quarterfinal of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens on Sunday, effectively eliminating them from the tournament.

Batting first, the West Indies managed to set a challenging score of 195/4, but India successfully chased down the target, winning by five wickets thanks to an impressive, not-out performance of 97 runs from Sanju Samson.

Reflecting on their innings, Hope admitted that his team fell short in critical moments. “Perhaps we left some runs on the table, especially on a ground like this. We might have been able to score more at both the start and the end of our innings,” he noted after the match.

Despite showing signs of promise, especially with aggressive batting in the middle and death overs, Hope highlighted the effectiveness of India's key bowlers during pivotal moments. “He is one of their primary strike bowlers. Whenever he has the ball, something impactful is bound to happen,” he remarked.

India's bowlers, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, struck at essential junctures, hindering the West Indies from maximizing their performance on a favorable batting surface, even as the middle order contributed significantly. Hope also commended his team's efforts, emphasizing their ability to adapt and the individual performances from both batters and bowlers.

“Hety was performing exceptionally well. I felt we were in a good position. Our adaptability to the varying conditions was commendable. Forde bowled well, and Akeal also took important wickets. Unfortunately, we just couldn't push through today to extend our journey in the tournament,” he expressed.

In spite of the setback, the West Indies captain stressed how narrowly his team came to advancing further in the competition and the need to capitalize on crucial moments in high-pressure matches.

This defeat marked the conclusion of the West Indies’ campaign, while India moved forward to the semifinals, keeping their title defense alive. For Hope and his squad, this loss serves as a poignant reminder of the fine margins that characterize knockout cricket, where a single outstanding performance can distinguish between contenders and champions.

“You never want to conclude your journey at this stage. One more victory could have secured a spot in the semifinals, and with a strong performance, you could reach the final. We need to ensure we play our best cricket on the day and seize crucial moments,” Hope concluded.