With a five-match series there for the taking, West Indies prevailed in the final T20I on Sunday by eight wickets. With India having set a target of 166 for the Windies in Lauderhill, Florida, Brandon King (85 not.out) would wrap up the game with a six and 12 balls to spare. 

This was a first series loss for India since July 2021, when they lost the three-match series in Sri Lanka. Skipper Hardik Pandya, who has lead the side since the T20 World Cup last year and lost his first series as captain, stated post-match, “Losing is good sometimes. It teaches you a lot of things.” 

Mulling over the defeat in the fifth T20I and the series, Pandya added, “If you see, we lost that period post ten overs. Since when I came, I wasn’t able to capitalize and I took my time and could not finish. (On decision to bat first) I believe that as a group we have to challenge ourselves. All these games are the games where we have to learn."

"We have spoken as a group that whenever we can take the hard way we will. In hindsight, one series here or there doesn’t matter but the commitment to the goal is important.”