‘A goat on a platter’: Ashwin explains how Hope let Sanju Samson regain form

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned Shai Hope’s bowling decisions during the second T20I against India, arguing that the West Indies captain made a tactical error by persisting with Akeal Hosein despite the spinner being taken apart by Sanju Samson.

India piled up 249/5 in 20 overs in Ranchi on Friday, with Samson smashing 82 off just 41 deliveries. West Indies, however, produced a stunning response with the bat, chasing down the target with nine balls to spare as Hope struck an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls to level the five-match series at 1-1.

While India’s batting dominated the first half of the contest, Ashwin felt Hope missed an opportunity to contain Samson by continuing to use Hosein during the PowerPlay. The left-arm spinner conceded 46 runs in three overs, struggling to contain Samson, who punished him with two sixes and two fours in one over.

Despite the batter’s aggressive approach, Hope gave Hosein three consecutive overs before eventually leaving him out of the attack for the remainder of the innings. Ashwin criticised the decision, saying the West Indies captain could not expect to build pressure by repeatedly using a spinner against a batter who was finding boundaries with ease.

“Samson looked scratchy because he was not in a run-scoring phase. However, Shai Hope also made a mistake today. You cannot keep using spinners from one end in an attempt to build pressure on Sanju Samson. Bowling three consecutive overs from Akeal Hosein during the powerplay was like serving a hungry lion a goat on a platter. Samson simply took advantage of the opportunity and went after Akeal Hosein," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.

Ashwin also praised Samson's approach, highlighting his willingness to keep taking risks for the team despite the pressure surrounding his place in the side. "It is not easy to maintain that attitude. It is human nature that when you are in danger and know that you might be dropped, self-preservation becomes the top priority. Yet, he continues to take risks for the team. And it is this great attitude of his that seems to be bringing him some luck as well. A catch went straight into a fielder's hands today, but he dropped it," he added.

Despite the expensive spell, West Indies managed to turn the game around with a commanding batting display. Hope led the chase with an unbeaten century, helping the visitors overcome the pressure of pursuing a total close to 250. West Indies also showed resilience by completing the chase despite losing three wickets inside the first six overs.

The result has added to the growing debate around the balance between bat and ball in the series. India and West Indies have both produced high-scoring performances, with batting-friendly conditions making life difficult for the bowlers. India will now look to address their difficulties in defending big totals, with head coach Gautam Gambhir having stressed the need for a better balance between bat and ball. The teams head to Indore for the next contest, where another high-scoring encounter could await.