Shai Hope
Sanju Samson has backed India’s opening batters after their defeat to the West Indies in Hyderabad, highlighting the challenge of chasing a massive target. He also praised West Indies captain Shai Hope for his composed batting, which helped the visitors secure a series-levelling victory with his second T20I century in three matches.
Samson acknowledged Hope’s ability to score consistently without taking unnecessary risks, saying India must recognise the quality of his performances and find effective ways to counter him in every game.
“Hope is batting really well, and we need to respect what he has been doing,” Samson explained. He added that the West Indies skipper was playing proper cricketing shots while showing respect for the bowlers, making his performances worthy of credit.
Samson’s Explosive Start Was Not Enough
India faced a daunting target of 248 runs, and Samson provided an aggressive start to the chase. He dominated the strike during the opening four overs, scoring 56 runs from just 23 deliveries before being dismissed early in the fifth over.
Samson said the situation demanded an attacking approach rather than a cautious start.
“When you are chasing a score like that, you have to trust your instincts and back your power game,” he said.
Although pleased with his innings, Samson admitted that the result left him disappointed. He would have preferred to produce the performance in a winning cause.
Samson Backs Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan
While Samson attacked the West Indies bowling, opening partner Abhishek Sharma found scoring more difficult than usual. Sharma made 29 from 24 balls, recording his lowest strike rate in a T20I innings in which he faced more than 20 deliveries.
Ishan Kishan, who has enjoyed an impressive year, also failed to make a significant contribution after losing his wicket early.
However, Samson refused to criticise either batter, insisting that one difficult match should not overshadow their recent performances.
He described Kishan and Abhishek as two of the best top-order batters in the world. Samson pointed out that Abhishek had scored 69 in the previous game, while Kishan had been producing runs consistently.
According to Samson, an off day for either player was understandable given their recent form.
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Tilak Varma and Nitish Reddy Keep India in the Contest
India’s chase appeared to be slipping away after the hosts lost five wickets for 130 runs during the 12th over. However, Tilak Varma and Nitish Reddy combined to put together a valuable 70-run partnership, briefly restoring hope for the home side.
Samson praised the young batters for handling the pressure and taking on the West Indies attack when India needed a strong response.
He explained that India remained in contention while the pair were batting together. Their ability to challenge the opposition despite the loss of five wickets was an encouraging sign for the team.
The partnership came to an end when Varma was dismissed at the conclusion of the 17th over. Reddy followed in the 19th over, leaving India’s lower order with too much work to do.
India were eventually bowled out for 223, falling 25 runs short of the target.
India Turn Their Attention to the Bengaluru Decider
The defeat has set up a decisive final match in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17. Samson said the Indian team was motivated to compete and determined to respond in the series finale.
He also acknowledged the West Indies’ performances, praising their ability to dominate two matches on Indian soil.
Samson stressed that the visitors deserved recognition for the quality of their cricket and the way they had performed under pressure.
With the series now heading into a decider, India will look to deliver a stronger all-round performance, while the West Indies will aim to maintain their momentum and secure the series.
