Dwayne Bravo Praises Shai Hope's Stellar Performance Against India
Bravo's Admiration for Hope
Dwayne Bravo, the former West Indies cricketer, has lauded Shai Hope, the West Indies captain, as "one of the best in the world" after his remarkable performance in the second T20I against India in Ranchi on Friday. Bravo shared his thoughts while attending the World Championship of Legends Season 3, where he is representing the West Indies Champions.
Hope's Record-Breaking Century
During the match, Hope achieved a stunning century off just 45 balls, leading the West Indies to a thrilling 250-run chase, marking their highest T20I chase against India and leveling the five-match series at 1-1. This century adds to Hope's impressive tally, as it was his third century on this tour, including two in ODIs, with two of these centuries contributing to victories.
Career Milestones for Shai Hope
On the same day, Hope also crossed the 11,000-run milestone in international cricket. Bravo expressed optimism that Hope's achievements would elevate his status among cricket's elite. He stated, "He is a great player. He is one of the best in the world, and I am very happy to see that he continues to show the world his talent. Hopefully, people talk more about him, and he gets the respect he deserves. This is also beneficial for West Indies cricket, and I hope they can win the next game and the series."
Shai Hope's Impressive Statistics
From 2017 to 2023, Hope played in 26 T20Is, accumulating 493 runs in 24 innings with an average of 22.41 and a strike rate of 124.49, including two fifties. His T20I performance has significantly improved since 2024, where he has scored 1,404 runs in 46 matches at an average of 37.95 and a strike rate of 145.95, featuring two centuries and 11 fifties, with a top score of 102*.
Currently, Hope ranks as the fifth-highest T20I run-scorer for the West Indies, with a total of 1,897 runs in 72 matches at an average of 32.15 and a strike rate of 139.69, including two centuries and 13 fifties. He is among the few players, alongside Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, to have multiple T20I centuries.
In 2023, Hope has played 14 T20Is, scoring 494 runs at an average of 44.91 and a strike rate of 145.72, with one century and four fifties, achieving a best score of 102*.
Overall, in T20 matches, he has amassed 6,246 runs in 232 games at an average of 31.86 and a strike rate of 129.63, including five centuries and 32 fifties, with a highest score of 118*.
In ODIs, Hope stands as the second-highest century-maker for the West Indies with 21 centuries, trailing Chris Gayle by five. He has scored 6,590 runs at an average of 51.48 across 158 matches.
This year is proving to be Hope's best across formats, with 1,229 runs in 27 matches at an average of 53.43, including four centuries and seven fifties, with a top score of 162*.
Bravo's Experience in the World Championship of Legends
Discussing his participation in the World Championship of Legends Season 3, Bravo expressed his excitement about reuniting with former teammates and competing against players from his era. He remarked, "You get the opportunity to play with teammates you have played your entire career alongside, and to get back in the same dressing room, the same environment, to get back competing again against teams that we played against in our era. It is good to see some of the greats of the game keeping their bodies in shape and coming to compete and try to win a tournament."
West Indies Champions' Current Standing
As of now, the West Indies Champions have secured two victories and suffered one defeat, placing them third in the points table. In their latest match against the Bangladesh Champions, significant contributions from Chadwick Walton (90*), Chris Gayle (56), and Lendl Simmons (20) enabled the team to chase down 219 runs with five wickets remaining.
Owner's Perspective on Bravo
Ajay Sethi, the owner of the West Indies Champions, shared insights about his relationship with Bravo, stating, "I was the founder of St. Lucia Zouks in 2013; that's the first team I took in CPL. I met Bravo a long time ago during functions. I find him to be a great gentleman with a great heart. He is very sporty and takes good care of his team, which I really like. We have formed a great bond over time."