India captain Sanju Samson has backed the team’s emerging pace-bowling options amid concerns over the side’s inability to defend big totals in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies, while acknowledging that Jasprit Bumrah remains irreplaceable.
Samson described Bumrah as a “once-in-a-generation” bowler but expressed confidence in the abilities of Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav, saying regular opportunities and consistent backing would help the young pacers improve.
“There is no replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. He is a once-in-a-generation kind of bowler, and we are very lucky to have him,” Samson said after India’s 24-run defeat in the fourth T20I.
He praised the performances of Arshdeep and Prince, adding that India possessed promising bowling talent that could develop further with experience and support.
India’s bowling concerns have come into focus as the series has witnessed high-scoring encounters, with opposition batters repeatedly putting the attack under pressure. After beginning the series with a comfortable eight-wicket victory while chasing 172, India suffered a setback in the second match when the West Indies chased down 250.
The hosts responded by defending 223 in the third T20I to secure a 14-run win, but their bowlers struggled again in the fourth match as the West Indies posted 247/3, powered by Shai Hope’s unbeaten century.
India’s chase ended 24 runs short, leaving the five-match series level at 2-2 ahead of Saturday’s decider in Bengaluru.
Reflecting on the defeat, Samson identified Tilak Varma’s dismissal as a decisive moment in the chase. India had slipped to 130/5 in the 12th over while pursuing a target of 248, before Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy combined to revive the innings.
The pair kept India in contention with an attacking partnership, reducing the equation to 48 runs from 19 balls. However, Romario Shepherd’s dismissal of Varma shifted the momentum back in the West Indies’ favour.
“The turning point of the match was when Tilak got out. We were cruising, scoring those 10-12 runs per over really nicely,” Samson said, praising the two young batters for handling pressure after India had lost five wickets.
He added that the partnership demonstrated the team’s ability to remain competitive in difficult situations, with both batters taking on the opposition bowling attack.
India will now look to address their bowling inconsistencies and deliver a stronger performance in the fifth T20I at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on October 17, with the series title at stake.
