"Can't Say It Was Turning Point": Arshdeep Singh On 'Game-Changing Moment' In 1st T20I

Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh brushed aside concerns around India's long tail after their shock loss in the first T20 International against the West Indies, saying such things are only discussed after a defeat. The list of specialist batters ended with Sanju Samson at number six in the first game of the five-match series, which India lost by four runs. "Not really," said Arshdeep when asked about the concerns around the batting order that has Axar Patel, a left-arm spinner who has vastly improved with bat in recent times, at number seven.

"These kind of things always comes after the end of the match. The playing XI we fielded, we were confident that we would win the match. We always back our playing XI whether it has six bowlers or nine. It doesn't matter at all," he added.

Arshdeep, who conceded four wides in the penultimate over of the West Indies innings, said the Indian team will "review" the loss.

Chasing a modest target of 150, India were restricted to 145 for nine as the West Indies prevailed by four runs at the Brian Lara Stadium.

While the extras bowled in the 19th over may have made the difference to the final outcome, Arshdeep tried his bit with the bat and hit two fours in his seven-ball 12 that nearly took India home after the fancied visitors self-destructed.

"I guess we needed one batter to stay till the end because in their last two over, five fielders were inside the 30 yard circle," the 24-year-old player said at the post-match press conference.

"We will review the match. What we could have done better in the first innings. Where we could have kept things tight and as a batting unit in the second innings where did we miss the finishing part." The game was in the balance when skipper Hardik Pandya was