In the last over of the fourth T20I between India and the West Indies in Hyderabad, Sunil Gavaskar believes Shamar Joseph would have been better off focusing on the stumps instead of trailing Arshdeep Singh with his deliveries.
After one of Joseph’s deliveries hit Arshdeep in the arm, he was criticised. Arshdeep top-edged the first delivery for four with one wicket left and 35 runs needed off the final over. The following delivery hit him on the arm, and as the batter made room, Joseph pursued him with another ball targeted at his torso. Gavaskar criticised the West Indies pacer because he thought the strategy was incorrect.
Shamar Joseph Hits Arshdeep
Eventually, Arshdeep had to retire due to obvious suffering. The innings terminated after 19.3 overs because India’s No. 11 was unable to continue. But when captain Shreyas Iyer realised that India would need their bowler in the crucial final, he motioned for Arshdeep to come back from the dugout.
“If he is not ok, he should retire. He seems to be in pain. You do not want to aggravate that injury,” said Gavaskar after the blow.
But Gavaskar was irritated with the subsequent delivery. “Would it not be simpler to just aim at the stumps? He knows that he is moving away to the left. Just aim at the stumps. Don’t aim at him. He is aiming at him.”
provided an update on Arshdeep’s health following the game, stating that the fast bowler was using ice on his shoulder. After being hit, Arshdeep collapsed right away and asked for the physiotherapist. Two balls after he started batting again, he was in pain once more.
Gavaskar Calls Out Shamar Joseph
In addition to Gavaskar, Joseph was criticised by former wicketkeeper-batter Sreevats Goswami, who described his actions as intentional.
“What Shamar Joseph did in the last 3 balls against Arshdeep is not in the spirit of the game for me. Arshdeep was never going to win it for India from that situation. I know it’s a battle out there, but he could have just bowled it on the stumps instead of trying to follow, and it looked like he was purposely trying to hit him. Not on,” he posted on X.
won by 24 runs to tie the five-match T20I series at 2-2. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will host the series finale on Saturday. India scored 213 runs in response to the West Indies’ 247/3 thanks to Shai Hope’s undefeated 102, his fourth century of the tour.