Dashing Indian opener Sanju Samson has opened up on the turning point in the fourth T20I against the West Indies at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, October 14.
After batting first, the visitors posted a whopping total of 247/3 in 20 overs, thanks to Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102 off 50 with four fours and nine sixes. Despite getting off to a good start, India got bundled out for 223 in 19.3 overs, losing by 24 runs.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Samson asserted that Tilak Varma’s dismissal turned the game upside down for them. Varma scored two fours and three sixes during his 43-run knock off 25 balls before being caught at midwicket off Romario Shepherd’s bowling.
“We were chasing a score around 250, so we can’t really anchor the innings. So, we had to go from ball one, and that’s what everyone tried to do. Till Tilak and Reddy were batting, we were still in the game. Needing 12-13 runs per over, I think the game was still on,” Samson said at the post-match press conference.
“The turning point of the match was when Tilak got out. We were closing the game. We were scoring those 10-20 runs per over really nicely. Reddy and Tilak were taking the pressure moments and were batting really well. Till that moment we were in the chase,” he added.
In the 248-run chase, Samson forged a 60-run opening stand with Abhishek Sharma. While Samson scored 56 off 23 with six fours and four sixes at an excellent strike rate of 243.48, Tilak (43) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) also shone, but couldn’t take the side over the winning line.
The five-match series is currently levelled 2-2 and the decisive fifth T20I will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17.
