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

West Indies Level Series with 24-Run Win Over India

West Indies defeated India by 24 runs to level the five-match T20I series at 2-2 after posting 247 for 3 and holding India to 223 in 19.4 overs. The series will now be decided in the fifth and final T20I, scheduled for Saturday, 17 October 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Hope's Century Powers West Indies

After India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first, West Indies amassed a total of 247 for 3 from their 20 overs. Captain Shai Hope led from the front, hitting an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls with four fours and nine sixes.

He was supported by Sherfane Rutherford, who scored an unbeaten 49 off 26 balls. Together, Hope and Rutherford added an unbroken 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

For India, Prince Yadav finished with bowling figures of 1 for 36 in four overs, while Arshdeep Singh took 1 for 52 from his four overs. Hope, who was named Player of the Match, remarked after the game that the team laid down the foundation with the bat really well and noted that he felt 240-plus was needed.

Paul Takes Five as India Fall Short

In reply, India mounted a strong chase, with Sanju Samson top-scoring with 56 runs off 23 balls. Tilak Varma added 43 runs, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 41 off 20 balls. However, West Indies bowler Keemo Paul pegged back the chase by taking 5 for 41 to dismantle the Indian batting lineup.

India faced a steep task in the 20th over, needing 35 runs to win with only one wicket in hand. With Arshdeep Singh on strike against Shamar Joseph, the batter was struck on his arm/shoulder by a short-pitched delivery.

Following medical attention on the field, Arshdeep was unable to continue and walked off retired out for 5 off 4 balls after Iyer signaled him from the dugout, ending India's innings on 223 in 19.4 overs. Former Bengal cricketer Shreevats Goswami criticized Joseph for bowling short deliveries at Arshdeep with the result already decided, calling the approach against the spirit of the game.

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