Sanju Samson rues India's failed chase despite 56 off 23
Sanju Samson said India's chase unravelled after Tilak Varma's dismissal despite his own half-century in Hyderabad.
Sanju Samson scored 56 off 23 balls but said the 24-run defeat to West Indies in Hyderabad left him gutted. India fell short of 248 after West Indies posted 247 for three at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Samson said Tilak Varma's dismissal with 48 runs needed from 19 balls proved the turning point. He praised the partnership between Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy that had kept India in the contest despite losing five wickets in the middle overs.
The opener defended teammates Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma after their low scores, saying one poor game does not define their quality. The series is tied at 2-2 with the decider scheduled for Bengaluru on Saturday.
CricHubb Take
Samson's insistence that Kishan and Abhishek remain world-class despite their off day reveals a captain willing to shield teammates publicly, a stance that could matter if India need those same players to deliver in the series decider.