West Indies secured a 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on October 14, 2026, but the final over sparked a debate over Shamar Joseph’s bowling tactics against Arshdeep Singh. With India needing 35 runs from the last six deliveries and their specialist batters already dismissed, the visitors appeared certain to win. However, the closing moments drew criticism from former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and ex-Bengal cricketer Shreevats Goswami.
Shamar, who had conceded 37 runs in his first two overs, returned to bowl the final over. Arshdeep, batting at No. 10, began with an outside edge that raced away for four. The West Indies pacer then attempted a wide yorker but conceded an extra before switching to short-pitched deliveries.
Arshdeep missed his first attempt at a pull shot, and Shamar followed it up with another short delivery as the Indian left-hander moved away from the stumps. The batter attempted another pull but was struck on the arm, prompting the Indian team physio to rush onto the field. After receiving medical attention, Arshdeep resumed batting. Shamar continued with the short-ball approach, but another delivery went down the leg side for five wides as the batter attempted to pull again.
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With India requiring 25 runs from the final three balls, Arshdeep was visibly uncomfortable following the blow. Considering the situation and the risk of aggravating the injury to his bowling arm, he retired hurt. West Indies subsequently completed a series-levelling victory. Although Shamar was within his rights to bowl short deliveries, Gavaskar questioned why the pacer did not target the stumps, particularly when Arshdeep was moving away from his original position.
“Would it not be simpler to just aim at the stumps? He (Shamar) knows that he (Arshdeep) is moving away to the left. Just aim at the stumps. Don’t aim at him (Arshdeep). He is aiming at him,” Gavaskar said on air after advising Arshdeep to retire.
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Former Bengal cricketer Shreevats Goswami went a step further, questioning whether Shamar’s approach was in keeping with the spirit of the game. In a post on X, Goswami argued that Arshdeep had little chance of pulling off an unlikely victory and suggested the bowler could have focused on the stumps instead of continuing to follow the batter.
“What Shamar Joseph did in the last 3 balls against Arshdeep is not in the spirit of the game for me!” Goswami wrote.
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 looked like purposely trying to hit him. Not on ! #INDVSWI
— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) October 14, 2026
He added that while competitive cricket naturally involves intense battles, the situation did not warrant bowling in a manner that appeared to target the batter. The incident added an unexpected talking point to India’s defeat, with the debate centred on bowling tactics, player safety and the spirit of cricket rather than the final result alone.
