Gavaskar condemns unsporting tactics in Hyderabad

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar strongly criticised West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Tensions flared when Joseph delivered a sharp bouncer that struck Indian tail-ender Arshdeep Singh directly on the shoulder. Arshdeep showed visible discomfort immediately after the heavy blow. India captain Shreyas Iyer quickly signaled for him to retire hurt and leave the field for medical attention.

Arshdeep bravely chose to stay at the crease to help finish the run chase. This particular match carries extra weight as both teams look to build momentum ahead of the upcoming global tournament cycle. On the following delivery, Arshdeep stepped away from his stumps to attempt a boundary hit. Joseph responded by bowling another short delivery aimed squarely at the injured shoulder of the Indian batsman. The ball ultimately missed the batter and rushed away for four byes and a wide.

Also read: Shai Hope strikes a brilliant century as West Indies beat India to force T20 series decider

Commentary box outrage

Witnessing this sequence left Gavaskar visibly furious on the broadcast. He called out the visiting fast bowler for deliberately targeting a vulnerable player instead of aiming for the completely exposed stumps. Gavaskar questioned the tactic openly, asking why any bowler would attack the batter physically when the wicket was left entirely undefended.

Arshdeep managed to avoid the second short ball but could not continue his innings safely. He finally retired hurt on five runs. West Indies secured a 24-run victory to successfully level the series. Shai Hope laid the groundwork for the Caribbean side with a spectacular unbeaten 102 off just 50 balls. Keemo Paul then dismantled the Indian batting lineup by claiming five wickets for 41 runs. Arshdeep now faces an uncertain recovery, raising serious doubts regarding his availability for the decisive final match in Bengaluru this Saturday.