Sanju Samson calls Jasprit Bumrah irreplaceable following India's loss against WI

Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson (Pic: AFP)

India's ongoing T20I bilateral series against West Indies has turned into a high-scoring run-fest, with bowling lineups repeatedly struggling to defend totals over 200. This difficulty in containing aggressive batters has brought the absence of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah back into sharp focus.

Although India registered an easy eight-wicket triumph in the series opener while chasing 172, the second T20I in Ranchi saw West Indies chase down a 250-run target in 18.3 overs, finishing at 252/4.

India bounced back in the third match by defending 223 for a 14-run win, but their containment issues resurfaced in the fourth match. A brilliant unbeaten hundred from Shai Hope propelled West Indies to 247/3, leaving India 24 runs short and raising fresh doubts over their death-bowling execution.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson acknowledged that finding a direct substitute for Bumrah is impossible, though he threw his support behind India's pace bowling unit.

"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 told the reporters after the match.

Varma's wicket stalled Indian run chase, says Samson

When chasing a daunting target of 248 on a relaid pitch, India found themselves in trouble at 130/5 in the 12th over. However, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy staged a remarkable fightback, bringing the required equation down to 48 runs off 19 deliveries before Romario Shepherd removed Varma. Samson pinpointed that dismissal as the decisive blow.

"The turning point of the match was when Tilak got out. 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 added.

With the five-game series currently deadlocked at 2-2, the winner-takes-all finale is scheduled for October 17 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

(With inputs from ANI)