Samson Hails Tilak-NKR Partnership Before Wicket Turnaround in Defeat

Chasing a target of 248 on a relaid surface, India found themselves in a tight spot at 130 for 5 in the 12th over. However, a determined partnership between Tilak and Nitish Kumar Reddy kept their hopes alive, narrowing the gap to just 48 runs needed from 19 balls. That momentum was halted when Romario Shepherd dismissed Tilak.

“The turning point of the match was when Tilak got out,” Samson reflected. “We were cruising, scoring those 10-12 runs per over really nicely. Reddy and Tilak were batting really well under pressure. Up until that moment, I felt we were still in the chase.”

He praised the young duo’s composure: “That is actually a great thing to have after losing five wickets—having that kind of control, with two young cricketers stepping up and taking on the West Indian bowling lineup.”

Earlier in the innings, Samson laid a strong foundation with 56 runs off just 23 deliveries. While he expressed satisfaction with his personal performance, he admitted disappointment at the team’s outcome.

“Whatever you do feels very different when you’re on the losing side, so I’m actually a bit gutted at the moment,” he confessed. “I definitely wanted to be on the winning side. I really enjoyed batting out there. When you’re chasing a score like that, there are no second thoughts—you just have to trust your instincts, your power game, and that’s exactly what I did. I loved the knock, but I would’ve preferred to be on the winning side.”

Regarding India’s bowling attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Samson acknowledged his irreplaceable value: “There is no replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. He’s a once-in-a-generation bowler, and we’re very fortunate to have him. But we’ve also got some excellent talent emerging—Arshdeep [Singh] has been doing a fantastic job, and Prince Yadav’s performances in recent games have been very impressive. The more experience they gain, the stronger they’ll become.”

In a worrying development for the team, India faces another injury concern following the match. In the final over of the chase, Arshdeep Singh was struck on the left shoulder by a short ball from Shamar Joseph. Despite visible discomfort, he continued to face one more delivery before retiring hurt.

“Arshdeep is currently icing his shoulder,” Samson confirmed. “We’re hopeful he’ll recover quickly.”

The decisive fifth and final T20I of the series is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Bengaluru.

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