West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase believes captain Shai Hope does not receive the recognition he deserves, highlighting his ability to ignore outside criticism and perform under pressure. Hope's unbeaten 102 against India in Ranchi has once again drawn attention to his T20 abilities ahead of the IPL mini-auction scheduled for December.
Speaking after West Indies defeated India by six wickets in the second T20I on Friday, Chase praised Hope's professionalism and his capacity to stay focused despite criticism of his approach in the shortest format.
"I think people underrate Shai Hope a lot. He is a guy who can block out a lot of noise and focus on what he has to do. I think that is his special skill because, when everything seems to be going wrong, he is still out there giving his best and performing for the team. I think that is his hallmark," Chase said.
"He is a great player. He probably doesn't have the same record in red-ball cricket, but people also play down his statistics and record, especially in T20 cricket. Everyone knows he is great in 50-over cricket, but even then, people sometimes don't give him enough credit. They always say he either bats too slowly or bats for himself," he added.
Hope's century came while West Indies were chasing a target of 250. The visitors had stumbled to 58 for three before Hope and Sherfane Rutherford put together a 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rutherford contributed a blistering 84 off 37 deliveries, while Hope remained unbeaten on 102 from just 45 balls, striking nine sixes.
Their efforts helped West Indies complete their highest successful chase in men's T20 internationals and the highest successful run chase against India in the format. The result also levelled the five-match series at 1-1.
HOPE'S T20 GAME CONTINUES TO DEVELOP
Hope has frequently faced questions about his scoring rate, particularly after his 32 off 33 balls against India at the T20 World Cup. Chase, however, highlighted the work his teammate has undertaken to become a more aggressive batter, including strength training and practising shots designed to clear the boundary.
"Firstly, he has done a lot of gym work to make himself stronger and more powerful, particularly when it comes to hitting the ball over the ropes and striking it better.
"I think he also practises a lot of range-hitting to get into those strong positions and get his body accustomed to hitting the ball from those positions. I think that has worked for him over the past couple of years, during which he has been working on it tremendously," Chase said.
Hope has also been in impressive form across formats recently. He accumulated 278 runs in three innings during the ODI series against India, including a century in Guwahati and an unbeaten 162 during West Indies' successful chase of 352 in the final match.
He carried that form into the T20I series, scoring 52 in the opening game before producing the match-winning century in Ranchi.
IPL RETURN REMAINS UNCERTAIN
Hope last played in the IPL for Delhi Capitals in 2024, scoring 183 runs across nine matches at a strike rate of 150. Despite continuing to contribute significantly to West Indies cricket, he has not featured in the tournament since.
Chase said Hope's dedication and professionalism made his recent performances particularly rewarding to watch.
"I am always happy when I see him do well because I know he is a very professional guy. He puts in the hard work, and he is the ultimate professional. He tries to tick every box and do the right things all the time.
"So, whenever he puts in these performances, I am very happy for him."
With the IPL mini-auction set to take place in December, Hope's century in Ranchi has added weight to his prospects of returning to the league. His recent displays have highlighted his ability to adjust his batting approach to the demands of T20 cricket, although it remains uncertain whether a franchise will select him at the auction.
