OPINION
Follow Us“The redemption is complete for West Indies,” said Ian Bishop in his usual heavy but captivating voice in the deciding moments of a significant game.
West Indies had bundled out England 18 runs short of their target in the series decider. It was their first series win since a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign last year had raised questions on the credibility of their method. The player-of-the-series was Jason Holder, who had enjoyed his own moment of redemption in the moments of victory.
Holder snared 15 wickets in the series at 9.6 runs apiece, striking every 7.4 deliveries. He crushed England in the opening T20I, pouching 5/27. His economy-rate in this high-scoring series was an impressive 7.8. As good as these numbers look, everything was not as simple for him throughout the series.
In the fourth T20I, bowling a key over while West Indies had put England in to bat, Holder conceded four sixes on a trot to Moeen Ali. The 28-run 18th over allowed England to gain momentum. Overall, Holder conceded six sixes in his last two overs. England rushed to 193, which proved 20 runs too many for the home side.
In the series-decider, Holder was tasked to defend 20 runs in the final over. He started with a no-ball, bringing the equation down to 18 off six balls. The next five balls were dot, Wicket, Wicket, Wicket, Wicket. From 6 6 6 6 to W W W W, Holder completed his redemption in the most impactful way possible. He became the first West Indian cricketer to take a T20I hat-trick and only the fourth overall from a Test playing nation to grab four wickets in a row.
“Eat your heart out, Curtis Campher,” said an ecstatic Bishop in the commentary box referring to the last man to attain the feat.
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As a white-ball cricketer, Holder has been on an upward curve that has gone unidentified by West Indies’ cricket itself. It was surprising to see his name in the reserve’s category for the 2021 T20 World Cup instead of the main squad of West Indies. He was replaced by Ravi Rampaul, the highest wicket-taker in the 2021 CPL, where Holder had a rather lean tournament. It was a shocker for several reasons.
Firstly, it was a one-off good CPL season for Rampaul who had returned to professional cricket after two years. Secondly, Holder’s numbers had never suffered consistently. In recent times, they have been better than many bonafide shorter-format pacers who are either T20 globetrotters or have received big paycheques in the last few IPL auctions. 
Couple that with his batting expertise and you will understand the perplexed faces at his ouster from the West Indies World Cup squad.
In T20s since 2020, 35 players have scored over 500 runs while batting at number 5, 6 and 7. Holder has 502 runs. His average of 22.8 falls in the same league as that of Hardik Pandya (22.5) and Daniel Christian (22.9). His strike-rate (130.7) is better than the likes of some prominent batters - Mahmudullah (115.2) and Najibullah Zadran (116.3). While the comparison ain’t fair due to role distinctions, it still shows Holder holds a valuable significance as a batter.
He is one of the most elegant six hitters in modern-day cricket. His unbeaten 47 kept Sunrisers Hyderabad relevant in a low-scoring game against Punjab Kings in IPL 2021. In a match where there were only seven sixes, five of them came off Holder's bat. This aspect of his batting enables him to be an impactful middle-order batter. Batting at four against Jamaica Tallawahs in Match 28 of CPL 2020, Holder ushered Barbados Tridents’ successful run chase with his 42-ball 69. He also has a double hundred in Test cricket.
The Barbadian has dropped enough hints of being a genuine all-rounder. In his first World Cup appearance in 2021 against Bangladesh, after replacing the injured Obed McCoy, he scored 15 nt out of five balls before a spell of 1/22.
In T20 cricket, there is an insatiable demand for such performers. Somehow, Holder has not been on the radar for the same.
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A year prior to the T20 World Cup, Holder was ignored at the 2020 IPL auction. He joined Hyderabad as an injury replacement and was fantastic for them in the couple of seasons he played.
Alongside a handful of batting performances, he picked 30 wickets, the second-highest for the franchise in the considered time period. He was only behind Rashid Khan who appeared in 30 matches as compared to Holder’s 15. The Barbadian averaged 16 runs apiece at an economy of 8.
Hyderabad did not retain him for the upcoming season. There is a good chance that Holder asked to be released, estimating his value. He is moving towards the peak of the upward curve in his white-ball career if not there already. Merge it with a mega auction besides a recognized need of fast bowling all-rounders and a bumper deal is almost guaranteed for him. It will be the first step towards a well-deserved recognition for this 30-year old. While there are a few other options in the all-rounders’ list, there is no one as reliable as Holder at present.
It will make many happy as he is one of the most likeable characters in world cricket. In a side full of boastful personalities, Holder goes about his business in a quiet fashion, without dropping his intensity. It’s almost as if his character is reflected in his batting - he will hit you hard but in an elegant way. His success at the auction will reinstate the faith in ‘good guys don’t finish last narrative’, a story we all enjoy.
