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IND vs WI, 5th T20I: One eye on the heavens as international cricket returns to Bengaluru for series decider

The fifth and final T20I between India and West Indies in Bengaluru will serve as a symbolic return to international cricket for M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has remained dormant since the tragic 2025 stampede during the IPL.

The match, the first at the venue since India’s Test against New Zealand in October 2024, will decide a tightly contested series tied at 2-2, with India aiming to avoid a second consecutive bilateral loss to the West Indies after their 2-3 defeat in August 2023. Weather remains a critical concern, as the North-East monsoon has brought humidity and late-afternoon showers to the city, potentially disrupting play.

The stadium’s SubAir drainage system, which saved the New Zealand Test two seasons ago, may need activation again to mitigate flooding risks. Despite the uncertainty, the series has already seen explosive batting, with five of eight innings exceeding 220 runs—including three scores above 250—and Chinnaswamy’s short boundaries favoring aggressive strokeplay.

However, the dew factor remains unpredictable, as it played no role in the previous two matches in Indore and Hyderabad, where teams defending totals emerged victorious. West Indies’ Shai Hope has dominated proceedings with two unbeaten centuries at over 200 strike rate, while India’s bowling, already missing Jasprit Bumrah and concerned about Arshdeep Singh’s fitness, will need creative solutions to curb his dominance.

The addition of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, last seen for India in November 2022, could provide much-needed firepower, though top-order batters Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan must anchor the chase against West Indies’ pace attack, led by Roston Chase.

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