10 October,2026 04:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Roston Chase and Shai Hope (Pic: AFP)
West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase believes captain Shai Hope remains an underrated cricketer despite maintaining remarkable consistency in white-ball cricket, pointing to his skipper's ability to dismiss external criticism, remain composed, and deliver match-winning efforts.
His latest masterclass came in Ranchi, striking his second T20I century off just 45 balls as West Indies completed a record-breaking 250-run chase against India with nine balls to spare, tying the five-match series 1-1.
Supported by Sherfane Rutherford's explosive 86, Hope's authoritative knock anchored the pursuit after early losses.
"I think people underrate Shai Hope a lot," Chase said following the win.
"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 stressed that criticism surrounding Shai Hope's strike rate often overlooks his overall impact and dedication.
"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."
"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."
Highlighting Hope's physical development, Chase noted his deliberate adjustments.
"Firstly, he has done a lot of gym work to make himself 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."
(With inputs from PTI)
