Amir Jangoo, at 27 years old, marked his international debut in grand fashion, leading West Indies to a resounding victory over Bangladesh in St Kitts. Jangoo, making his first-ever appearance in an international match, not only scored a stunning century but was also named the Player of the Match. However, behind his extraordinary innings was a crucial partnership with his friend, Keshy Carti, who played a key role in the success. Jangoo also credited his performance to following the advice of head coach Darren Sammy.
Jangoo, who didn’t want to go out for a duck on his debut, made sure to shine by scoring a century. He formed a solid 132-run partnership with Kecy Carti, and it was Carti’s advice that allowed Jangu to play freely. In the end, Jangu’s century helped West Indies to a comfortable victory. He became the 16th player in history and the second West Indies batsman to score a century on ODI debut.
Reflecting on his incredible debut, Jangoo said, "This is surreal. It’s an amazing feeling. After a lot of hard work, it’s finally paying off. I never wanted to be out for a duck (laughs). He (Carti) is my close friend, and he made things easier for me. He told me to enjoy my debut, and that’s exactly what I did. The pitch was pretty good."
Jangoo also praised the guidance from West Indies' white-ball coach, Darren Sammy, which he followed to achieve success: "Our head coach (Darren Sammy) set a clear path for us on how to score. We had a target for every ten overs."
Despite a large total of 322 runs set by Bangladesh, West Indies chased it down with 4 wickets remaining and 25 balls to spare. Bangladesh, despite a big total, suffered an easy defeat due to ineffective bowling.
