PRESSURE and pacing in T20 cricket are often the fine lines between a match-winning performance and a premature departure to the pavilion. Following India’s hard-fought victory in the third T20I against the West Indies in Indore—a win that pushed the Men in Blue into a 2-1 series lead—cricket pundits have been dissecting the technical nuances of the top-order performance. Among those weighing in is former Indian Test stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara, who offered a candid breakdown of why the explosive Sanju Samson found himself back in the dugout after a mere three-ball stay.
Samson, who had electrified the previous encounter with a masterful 82, was expected to be a key figure in India’s pursuit of a daunting total. However, his stay at the crease was cut short by Shamar Joseph in the second over, resulting in just three runs off six deliveries. For a player of his caliber, such an exit is an anomaly, but according to Pujara, it was a consequence of the specific tactical demands of the match.
The Pressure of the Powerplay
Speaking on the JioStar show GamePlan, Pujara highlighted the domino effect caused by the opening partnership’s initial caution. While Abhishek Sharma eventually exploded to strike a breathtaking 69 off just 30 balls, the early stages of the innings saw both openers taking a moment to survey the surface in Indore.
“He should have understood the wicket a little more,” Pujara noted regarding Samson’s brief innings. “The phase had become like that because Abhishek was also taking a little time. So, Sanju didn’t have that option. He had to accelerate a little early, and that’s why that error happened.”
Pujara observed that the tactical shift required to compensate for the lack of early momentum forced Samson into an aggressive stance before he had fully settled into his rhythm. The technical failure was compounded by the nature of the dismissal, where the bat turned in Samson’s hands—a physical manifestation of the forced urgency. “The ball was definitely good, there is no doubt about that,” Pujara conceded, “but I still felt that he might have batted better had he gotten a little more time to assess the bounce and the pace of the wicket.”
The Role of Ishan Kishan
While the top order remains the face of India’s aggressive T20 blueprint, Pujara was quick to shift the spotlight toward the unsung stability provided by Ishan Kishan at the No. 3 position. In a format dominated by strike rates and high-octane boundaries, Pujara emphasized that Kishan’s selfless approach is the glue holding the Indian batting lineup together.
“If we talk about Ishan Kishan, coming at No. 3, he is doing exactly what the Indian team needs,” Pujara explained. “You cannot expect a massive score every single time because you have such explosive players at the top of the order. Their primary role is to provide a solid foundation and extract maximum value from the Powerplay.”
Kishan’s contribution has often been undervalued by those looking solely at triple-digit scores, but Pujara argues that his “quickfire 30-40” runs are the heartbeat of the team’s consistent total-building strategy. By maintaining the flow of the game, Kishan allows the rest of the lineup to capitalize on the platform created during the initial six overs.
“Whenever Ishan Kishan has come to bat, he has maximized the Powerplay,” Pujara added. “After that, you want to accelerate because you have wickets in hand. Maybe for his personal milestone, people might want him to score big runs, but he is currently doing exactly the job the management has asked of him.”
Looking Ahead to Hyderabad
The series now shifts to Hyderabad for the fourth T20I, a match that carries significant weight as India looks to seal the series. The victory in Indore, powered by a massive 223-run total, served as a testament to the depth of the Indian side, even when individual stars like Samson face temporary setbacks.
For Samson, the task in Hyderabad will be to rediscover the composure that defined his performance earlier in the series. The West Indies, who fell just 14 runs short in the third game, have shown they are more than capable of punishing any hesitation from the Indian batters.
As the caravan moves to Telangana, the focus will undoubtedly remain on the balance between calculated caution and explosive intent. India’s ability to navigate these tactical waters—as dissected by Pujara—will be the deciding factor in whether they wrap up the series or allow the West Indies a route back into the competition. With the stakes rising, the pressure to perform within the first few overs of the Powerplay will be higher than ever, and both teams know that one mistake could be the difference between a series win and a decider in the final game.
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