Sanju Samson has publicly backed India’s top order while offering praise for the tactical steadiness displayed by West Indies captain Shai Hope. Hope’s performance in Hyderabad, which marked his second century in three T20Is, proved decisive as the visitors defended their total of 247 to secure a 24-run victory and level the series. Samson noted that Hope has been playing high-quality cricket shots while minimizing risks and respecting the bowlers, a performance level that he believes demands respect. According to “He (Hope) is playing really well, we need to respect what he has been doing,”, Samson. “He has been playing some really good cricketing shots, not taking that much risk, so he is respecting the bowlers as well. We need to give the credit to him for the way he is batting and we are definitely switched on how to respond to him every game,” he added.
Reflecting on the chase, Samson, who scored 56 off 23 balls, explained that India’s approach required total commitment to an aggressive mindset. Despite his explosive start, his opening partner Abhishek Sharma found it difficult to rotate the strike, recording 29 runs off 24 deliveries in an uncharacteristically slow outing. Samson remained supportive of both Sharma and Ishan Kishan, labeling them as two of the world’s best top-order players and dismissing the impact of a single off-day following their recent string of strong performances. Samson himself got India off to a bright start in their pursuit of 248. Racing to 56 off 23 balls before falling at the start of the fifth. “When you are chasing a score like that, there is no second thought, you just have to back, he faced the bulk of the deliveries in the first-four overs. His opening partner Abhishek Sharma struggled and played an uncharacteristically slow knock, consuming 24 deliveries for his 29 – his lowest strike rate in any T20I innings where he faced more than 20 balls, while Samson blazed away.
The Indian innings faced significant pressure after the team slipped to 130 for 5 by the 12th over. However, a 70-run partnership between Tilak Varma and Nitish Reddy kept the hosts in contention. Samson lauded the composure of the two young cricketers, noting their ability to handle the pressure against the West Indian bowling attack until Varma was dismissed in the 17th over and Reddy followed in the 19th. India was ultimately bowled out for 223, falling short of the target.
“I really enjoyed the knock, but I would have liked it to be on the winning side,” Samson remarked regarding his own contribution. He emphasized that the team remains focused on the upcoming final fixture. With the series now tied, the decisive match is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, in Bengaluru.
Looking ahead to the decider, Samson praised the West Indian team for their ability to compete and dominate on foreign soil. He expressed that the squad is charged up for the final showdown, acknowledging that the series has come down to a single high-stakes game. The Indian camp is preparing to approach the Bengaluru encounter with the goal of overcoming the momentum shift established by the tourists.
