'No replacement for Bumrah': Samson defends bowlers amid scrutiny, provides injury update on Arshdeep

India’s veteran opener Sanju Samson has come in defense of the under-pressure bowling attack for not being as potent in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. In the fourth T20I of the series, India ended up conceding 247/3 as West Indies batters went berserk on the batting-friendly pitch of Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. After the 24-run defeat, Samson lauded Bumrah as a ‘once-in-a-generation bowler’, saying that there is no replacement for him. He praised pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav and said that the current bowling lineup needs more experience and backing, which will lead to improvement. 

"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. But we have had some really good talent coming along also; Arshdeep [Singh] has been doing a great job, and also the way Prince Yadav has bowled in the last few games is very impressive. I feel we have some really good talent. The more we play them, the more we back them, the better they will become," Samson said in the post-match press conference.

In the ongoing T20I series, Indian pacers barring Prince have conceded at more than 10 runs per over. Frontline pacer Arshdeep's economy rate is close to 10.93 runs per over. The fifth-bowler puzzle has also continued to haunt India despite Naman Dhir providing a temporary solution. Shivam Dube is yet to bowl a single over in the series.

Will Bhuvi solve the puzzle in Bumrah’s absence on Kiwi tour?

Bumrah has been rested for the T20I series against New Zealand as well. The New Zealand T20I series will begin on October 22. But India will have the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has returned to the T20I squad after nearly four years. Bhuvneshwar has been a potent pacer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), helping them win two consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) titles.

Will Arshdeep play T20I series decider?

West Indies levelled the five-T20I series 2-2 with a win in Hyderabad. The final T20I of the series is scheduled to be held on October 17 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Ahead of the decider, the Indian team management will be sweating over Arshdeep’s fitness. The left-arm pacer was hit on the left-arm by Shamar Joseph's bouncer in the final over. He got medical attention on the field but eventually walked back to the dugout, retired hurt. Samson hopes that the pacer recovers for the final T20I.

"Arshdeep is putting ice on his shoulder. Hopefully he recovers soon," Samson said.

If Arshdeep doesn’t play the final T20I, India will have to play with two frontline pacers. It may lead to either Kuldeep Yadav or Ravi Bishnoi to walk back into the playing eleven.

Samson on his blazing knock

Samson was impressive with the bat, scoring 56 runs from just 23 balls. He reached his fifty from just 20 balls, his joint-fastest. While Samson enjoyed batting in the run chase, he isn't happy that it ended up in a losing cause. His knock featured six fours and four sixes. He lost his wicket to Keemo Paul in the fifth over. Paul ended up taking a record-breaking five-wicket haul. 

"Whatever you do feels very different when you are on the losing side, so I am actually a bit gutted at the moment," he said. "I definitely wanted to be on the winning side. I really enjoyed batting out there. When you are chasing a score like that, there are no second thoughts - you just have to back your instincts, your power game, and that is what I did. So I really enjoyed the knock, but I would have liked to be on the winning side."

This was Samson's 10th T20I half-century, his second of the series. This was also Samson's third T20I half-century against the Caribbean side.

Samson reveals turning point of the match

The required run rate was slipping out of the grasp in the slog overs but India had hope when Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle. Samson feels that Tilak’s wicket was the turning point of the game. Tilak departed on the last ball of the 17th over. At the time of his dismissal, India's score was 200/6 and the hosts needed 48 more runs to win. He lauded the 70-run partnership between Tilak and Reddy.

"The turning point of the match was when Tilak got out," Samson said. "We were cruising, scoring those 10-12 runs per over really nicely. Reddy and Tilak were batting really well in the pressure situation. Till that moment, I think we were in the chase.

"That is actually a great thing to have after losing five wickets, having that kind of control - two young cricketers taking on the pressure and taking on the West Indian bowling line-up."

Samson credits Hope for visitors’ success

Samson also credited West Indies skipper Shai Hope. The opener smashed an unbeaten century, his second in the series. He was impressed with Hope's shot selection.

“He (Hope) is playing really well, we need to respect what he has been doing,” said 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.

Despite the defeat, Samson says that the team is motivated to compete in the final. West Indies will be searching for their first-ever T20I series win on Indian soil.

India vs West Indies T20I squads -

India Squad: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kuldeep Yadav.

West Indies Squad: Shai Hope(w/c), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Keemo Paul, Shamar Springer, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde.