Photo by Escpl (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Shreyas Iyer Century Powers India to Eight-Wicket Win Over West Indies in 1st T20I

West Indies Bowled Out Despite Middle-Order Resistance

India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series after defeating West Indies by eight wickets in the opening fixture on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against the Shai Hope-led West Indies side.

The visitors faced early trouble and were reduced to 44/3 inside the powerplay. Kamil Pooran was bowled for 12, Shimron Hetmyer was run out for 5, and Rovman Powell was bowled for a three-ball duck.

West Indies recovered through a 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Hope and Sherfane Rutherford. Rutherford top-scored with 56 runs off 34 balls, striking 6 fours and 3 sixes, while Hope added 52 runs off 37 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.

However, West Indies were eventually bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs. Indian debutant Naman Dhir claimed 3 for 31, Axar Patel took 2 for 26, Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets, and Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav picked up one wicket each.

Iyer Century Clinches Rapid Chase

India lost both openers early in their pursuit of 172. Abhishek Sharma struck 21 runs off 10 balls with 3 fours and 1 six before falling to Roston Chase, caught by Hetmyer at 29/1 in 2.3 overs.

Fellow opener Sanju Samson was the second wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Akeal Hosein for 11 runs off 9 balls, leaving India at 35/2 in 3.3 overs.

Following Samson's dismissal, Iyer and Ishan Kishan took full control of the innings. The pair shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 137 runs from 68 deliveries to guide the hosts home.

Iyer led the charge with an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls, a knock containing 10 fours and 6 sixes, earning him the Player of the Match award. Kishan contributed an unbeaten 37 off 27 deliveries with 5 fours.

Hosein (1 for 37) and Chase (1 for 37) took the only wickets for West Indies as India reached 172/2 in 14.4 overs, securing victory with 32 balls remaining.

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