‘Sometimes you’ve got to throw stats out the window’: Shai Hope on why he kept backing Sherfane Rutherford

MUMBAI: Modern-day T20 cricket, they say, is all about numbers, data and match-ups. But West Indies captain Shai Hope chose to trust impact over analytics, persisting with Sherfane Rutherford despite the left-hander’s modest T20I numbers, an average of 22.14 after 48 matches and just five half-centuries.That faith paid rich dividends as Rutherford produced a scintillating 76 not out off 42 balls, studded with seven sixes, to power West Indies to a 30-run win over England in their Group C clash of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night. “You can just watch him and see how special he is. Sometimes, we’ve got to throw stats out the window every now and again. You can just look at a player and see what impact he has on a team. If you ask any bowler in world cricket, if they see Sherfane Rutherford at the next end, they're going to always feel as though they're under pressure. So that in itself speaks for itself. So, I don't think we necessarily need to focus too much on the stats,” Hope said at the post-match press conference.“I’m just happy to see him getting the success that he truly deserves because he's been playing really well, he's been training hard and it's only a matter of time before the consistency comes. So happy for him,” Hope added.Rutherford came into the game with modest international returns despite flashes of brilliance across global franchise leagues. But on a surface that offered grip and demanded composure, his innings provided both momentum and stability at a crucial phase.Like most West Indian cricketers, Rutherford plies his trade across multiple T20 leagues worldwide. The 27-year-old has already represented 26 franchise teams — including five in the IPL — and will turn out for his 27th side when he plays for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 this summer.Calling him a "hard worker," Hope praised Rutherford’s work ethic, saying he was "diligent with the way he goes about his preparation."“Sherf has always been a hard worker, especially when it comes to his batting. He's always very diligent with the way he goes about his preparation. And he would bat from the start of the session all the way through to the end if he's really working on something. And I don't think that has changed from the time he came into the team all the way till now. And so it's just nice to see when guys are putting in that hard work in the nets and that preparation that the success follows.”“It's very good to see Sherf (Sherfane) coming in and making an impact once again today. Happy days for Sherfane. I hope he can continue. I hope it's not too bad, that little injury he has today,” Hope said.Rutherford’s blitzkrieg helped West Indies post 196 for nine, a total Hope described as “around par” on a night with no dew, allowing their spinners to squeeze England through the middle overs. Hope backed Rutherford to add consistency to his already flamboyant game.“I’m sure the stats will improve over the next few years because he’s a quality player,” Hope said.Named Player of the Match, Rutherford confirmed his finger injury was not serious and said he would be fit for West Indies’ next match against Nepal on Sunday. “One of the biggest challenges was Adil Rashid (2-16 in four overs). We knew in our meetings that he’d be the toughest bowler. For me, it was important to strike against him, build partnerships, and back ourselves to catch up later. Once I trust my process and read the situation well, I know I can accelerate at the end. It was about having a clear mind and batting with awareness,” Rutherford added.