India vs West Indies, WI in IND, 5 T20Is, 2026 Oct 6 Full score card

India blitz their way home in 14.4 overs and go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Chase pushes it through at the sticks. Iyer taps it to the right of the bowler. Ishan is backing up a bit far, and Chase gets to the ball quickly. He turns around and fires in a throw at the bowling end but misses, conceding an overthrow as the ball rolls towards deep cover.

SIX! There it is, a maiden T20I ton for Shreyas Iyer. What a way to return to form for the Indian skipper. Right from the outset, the way he struck the ball gave you the feeling that something special was brewing, and it only got better as the innings progressed, with Iyer going through the gears beautifully. Shreyas brings up his hundred in just 42 balls, the fastest by an Indian in a T20I against West Indies, inform the on-air commentators. This is fired across off by Chase from around the wicket. Iyer walks across the off stump and swings it high and handsome over long on for half a dozen. Shreyas takes off his helmet and turns towards the dugout, raising both hands aloft in celebration. A special moment for the Indian skipper.

Floated up, on middle and leg. Kishan lunges and ease it to long on for a single. He brings Iyer back on strike, who is on 95 and India need 7 more runs for the win.

Darted in at the pads. Kishan misses out on the glance and gets hit on the pads.

Carnage, absolute carnage by Shreyas Iyer. Roston Chase has been brought back.

SIX! Iyer is in a hurry here, and what a knock this is turning out to be. He's on 95. Back of a length and over middle, trying to angle it across. Shreyas Iyer leans across to the off side and clobbers it over wide long on for a biggie.

FOUR! That's too easy. Bowled from around the wicket, a full toss on the pads, and Iyer flicks it away down to fine leg or a boundary.

Pitched up around off, pushed down through mid off for a single.

PUT DOWN! That is a simple catch spilled by Shamar Joseph. Length ball over off and middle, Shreyas Iyer looks to power it down the ground but hits it flat and straight to the fielder at long on. Joseph is late to get forward and ends up getting hit on the wrists, rather than pouching it safely into the hands.

SIX! One more! Dug in shorter this time and straighter, too. It is a back-of-the-hand slower ball as well. Iyer picks it right out of the hand and swings it high over deep mid-wicket for another biggie.

SIX! Straight as an arrow! Back of a length, it is the leg cutter. Iyer picks it early, moves to the off side and tonks it towards the sightscreen for a biggie.

Matthew Forde comes back on, replacing Roston Chase.

FOUR! Powered away to the fence. Floated up on a length and around off. Ishan Kishan goes deep in the crease and moves to the off side, drilling it down with a straight bat and to the right of the bowler for a boundary. 19 big runs off that over.

Fractionally shorter on the pads, worked away to deep square leg for one more.

Flatter and darted well across off, Ishan Kishan rocks back and tries to muscle it over deep mid-wicket. Kishan gets rushed and mistimes it on the bounce to the fielder in the deep for a single. The 100-run stand is up between these two as well.

A bit fuller and straighter, worked away through wide mid on for a single. Uh, oh! There's a late call for a front-foot No Ball, and that is a cardinal sin for a spinner. Free Hit loading...

FOUR! Iyer has been prolific in that region this evening. Good length at the stumps, bowled flatter, and once again Iyer makes a bit of room and hits it hard and flat over the leaping extra cover fielder for a boundary.

SIX! One of, if not the, shots of the day. Hosein drags the length back a bit, on off, looking to turn it away. Shreyas Iyer backs away and just slams it handsomely over deep cover for a biggie.

On a length and drifted across the off stump. Kishan stays back and slaps it down to long off for a single.

Akeal Hosein is back for his final over. 3-0-18-1 so far for Hosein.

Agricultural from Shreyas this time. Floated up on middle, slogged away between deep backward square leg and deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 7 runs off Chase's returning over. 51 needed now off 48 balls.

Five singles in a row now. Nicely flighted, drifted into middle and leg. Kishan clips it in front of mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

Bowled really quick, at 110.1 kph and outside off. Iyer tries to go over the off side, but miscues it down to long on for yet another single.

Pushed through quicker and flatter, Kishan hops back and taps it wide of point for a quick single.

Dragged length, turning back into the stumps. Iyer stays back and works it through mid-wicket for one more.

Floated up, full and on leg. Kishan makes room and drives it along the turf to long on for a single.

Roston Chase (2-0-22-1) returns to the attack.

SIX! Oh, that will really hurt the bowler. Dug in a bit short and around off, Shreyas Iyer stays upright and flat-bats it back down the ground for a biggie.

What a let-off! The West Indian players are dumbfounded by the decision, but it was a really close call. Shamar Springer dishes out a wide full toss, and Ishan Kishan is taken aback by it. Kishan ends up slicing it with one hand and towards deep cover. Matthew Forde comes in from the deep but is a bit lazy and has to lunge at the last second. Forde takes it with both hands, but the fingers are a bit splayed on the impact. The third umpire has a look at it, and after watching it from many different angles, he feels that some part of the ball is touching the ground. It will be just a single, then.

Taken cleanly? Matthew Forde is claiming it, but Ishan Kishan has been asked to wait. Forde's fingers get split as the ball threatens to burst through his grasp, and the third umpire needs to ascertain whether it has made any contact with the ground. The front-on replay is conclusive enough for the third umpire that the ball has touched the ground. NOT OUT flashes on the big screen, much to the amusement of the Men in Maroon.

There to be hit, but Kishan finds the fielder. Short and wide, smacked down straight to the man at short cover.

The length is pulled back a bit, bowling it over the stumps. Shreyas Iyer tucks it down in front of square leg and picks up a single to break the drought and bring up his 11th T20I FIFTY.

FOUR! Shreyas Iyer moves to 49 with that boundary. Length ball at a gentle 122.4 clicks, and wide outside off. Iyer moves to the off side and smashes it to the right of mid off for four runs.

Springer starts with a slower one, on a good length and around off. Iyer dabs it down to short third, looking for a single, but Kishan sends him back.

DRINKS BREAK! A much-needed break for the bowling side. It has been all India in the last 5 overs, and Shreyas Iyer is on a rampage. With just 70 more needed off 60 balls, the Windies need at least a couple of quick wickets straight after the break. They are also lacking in spin-bowling options, which is costing them a bit, but they need to find a way. On the other hand, Iyer and Ishan Kishan will look to continue on their merry way and take their side to the win.

Darted in fuller and on off. Iyer gets down on a knee and brings out the reverse, playing it to deep cover for a single.

Dropped short again, on off. Iyer taps it to extra cover from the crease.

Nice and tight, fractionally short, on the off stump. Iyer knocks it to cover.

Good running! Slower through the air, on a nagging length, on off. Iyer nurdles it in the vacant mid-wicket region and comes charging back for the second run. The 100 is up for India.

Across off, flatter trajectory. Kishan cuts it late towards deep backward point for a single.

FOUR! That should have been stopped. A half-tracker, and Akeal offers width too. Kishan reaches out and slaps it on the bounce to cover. Kamil Pooran can't get his body behind the ball as the ball bounces past him and races away.

Time for a bowling change. Akeal Hosein (2-0-10-1) is brought back on.

PUT DOWN! A very tough chance. One of those catches that either they stick or they don't. Into the deck, on off. Iyer swats it with a flat bat back towards the bowler. Shepherd sticks out the right hand on his follow-through but can only get his fingertips to it. It goes wide of long on and the batters pick up a couple. Shepherd goes for 19 runs in his 2nd over after a tidy first over. 78 needed from 66 balls.

FOUR! Rinse and repeat. Slightly on the shorter side, on off. Iyer takes a step back in the crease and stands tall as he slams it over extra cover for four more.

FOUR! Up and over. This is on the fuller side, outside off. Iyer walks across to the off side just as the bowler is about to release the ball. Shreyas gets his hands through the line of the ball and thumps it over, leaving the sweeper cover no chance. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

FOUR! Shimron Hetmyer's effort goes in vain. Shepherd bangs it into the deck, outside off. Iyer walks across the stumps and gets on top of the bounce before dragging it in front of square on the leg side. Hetmyer covers good ground to his left at deep mid-wicket and dives but cannot prevent the boundary.

The length is pulled back, on middle and leg. This sits up to be hit as Kishan pulls it hard to deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Too straight and Romario Shepherd is made to pay for it. On the pads, on a length. Kishan brings his wrists into play and flicks it behind square leg, picking the big gap between short fine leg and deep square leg.

Romario Shepherd to continue. There is a slight halt as the Indian batters rehydrate.

Back to bowling at pace. 139.5 kph on the speed gun, but it looked a lot quicker than that. Banged in short, around the left shoulder. Kishan goes for the pull but is rushed. One hand comes off the bat handle as Kishan pulls it square on the leg side for a single. 39 runs off the last 4 overs. India require 97 runs in 72 balls.

FOUR! Powered away! Joseph takes pace off, bowling it at 118.2 kph, full and wide on off. Kishan reaches out, collapses his back knee and smacks it in the gap between extra cover and mid off for a boundary.

A little too straight, slightly on the fuller side, on the pads. Kishan leans inside the line to play the pick-up shot but is beaten for pace and gets hit on the thigh pad.

Hits the hard length, on off. Iyer takes a step across towards the off side and punches it to long on. They cross.

In and around the off stump, skidding through. Kishan whips it through mid-wicket and crosses over.

In the channel, on a good length. Iyer stays back and glides it to the left of backward point for a single.

Bowled on a back of a length, on middle. Iyer turns it in front of square on the leg side and picks up a single.

Banged in short, outside off. Iyer sways away and lets it be.

Dug in short, over middle. Iyer gets his hands high and pulls it to the left of deep square leg for a brace.

Romario hits the top of off, Kishan presses up on his toes and hurriedly gets his bat down as he chops it wide of point and hurries to the other end.

Across off, on a good length. Kishan steers it to backward point.

Slanted in at the pads, on a good length. Shreyas nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

End of the Powerplay, and that final over from Shamar Joseph has handed India the advantage. West Indies were 44/3 at the same stage, whereas India are 62/2. Here's Romario Shepherd, ready to have a bowl.

In the air...but safe! Heart-in-mouth moment for Shreyas Iyer. A well-directed short ball by Shamar around the right shoulder. Iyer tries to take it on but is rushed and the ball gets big on him. It catches him high on the bat and it is skied behind square leg. Kamil Pooran in the deep does not quite judge it well and runs around the ball rather than charging in. Perhaps, had he judged it better, he was in with a chance there. A single taken. 15 runs off the over as India end the Powerplay on a high. The Men in Blue are 62/2, needing 110 from 84 balls.

Shamar goes searching for the yorker but ends up bowling a low full toss, on off. Iyer jams it out back to the bowler.

FOUR! Deft placement. 4th boundary in 9 balls for the Indian skipper. Joseph's pace is working against him. Skidding through, on a back of a length, on off. Shreyas lets the ball come on and opens the face of the bat at the last moment. He glides it to the right of the diving short third fielder.

FOUR! Easy pickings. Iyer is off to a flier here. Joseph tries to attack the stumps with a full ball but ends up being a bit too full. Iyer plants his front foot across and flicks it over mid-wicket.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. Hits the good length, outside off. There is just enough width for Iyer, and he cashes in. He stands tall and plays it on the rise, lofting it over cover. India's 50 comes up.

At 141.3 kph, on a good length. angled in towards the off stump before it nibbles away. Iyer is squared up in defence. It squirts off the outer half behind point for a couple of runs.

Will Akeal Hosein bowl another over in the Powerplay? The answer is no. Shamar Joseph comes on to bowl.

Dragged length again, at the stumps, Iyer moves inside the line and stabs it down through mid-wicket for a single. 125 more needed off 90 balls.

FOUR! Clinical from the Indian skipper. Good length around off, Shreyas Iyer transfers his weight onto the back foot and slaps it down to the left of Shamar Joseph at point, picking up a boundary.

Nagging length, in and around off. Kishan dabs it into the off side and picks up a single.

FOUR! Onto it in a flash! Marginally short again, around off. Ishan Kishan rocks back and smacks it down through cow corner for a boundary.

Oh, a bit of hold in the deck now. Fractionally short of a good length, on off, and this one turns as well. Kishan is taken aback and has to fend it down.

Flighted ball, a bit full and outside off. Iyer leans on and pushes it towards cover-point for a quick single.

Fast hands from Kishan, but he can't pierce the infield. Angled across the off stump, Kishan slams it away towards cover-point, where Shamar Joseph makes a sharp stop.

A touch fuller and on off, Iyer takes a step to the off side and punches it down to long off for a single.

The arm ball now, speared back in from outside off. Shreyas Iyer stabs it away into the off side.

The skipper, Shreyas Iyer comes out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! A complete miscue, and Akeal Hosein picks up a wicket in his 100th T20I game. This is darted in quicker by Hosein and bowled into the turf, over middle. Sanju Samson looks to rock back and whack it over mid-wicket but splices it back to the bowler. Hosein hops up a bit in his follow-through and snaffles it with both hands. Samson's dry run of form continues, and India are now 35/2 inside the first 4 overs.

Another in-drifter, a bit fuller and on leg. Samson makes a bit of room and pushes it to the left of the bowler.

Drifted well into the pads, looking to turn it away. Samson presses back and plays it with a straight bat to mid on.

That's brilliant work in the field by Shamar Joseph. Shortish length, turning back in towards off. Sanju Samson hops back and punches it sweetly past cover. Joseph sprints after it and flicks the ball back in play, saving a run for his side.

Dropped well short and outside off, this is cut away behind point for a single.

Nagging length, on middle. Ishan Kishan leans on to work it leg side, but gets an inside edge past the short fine leg fielder, picking up a couple of runs.

A much-needed breakthrough for West Indies. Ishan Kishan is in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Abhishek Sharma lives and dies by the sword, and that is a really good take by Shimron Hetmyer. Roston Chase changes the angle by coming over the wicket, and he darts this one across the left-hander. Sharma keeps moving around in his crease, and he yet again backs away to go over the off side. However, Sharma miscues it high over extra cover and Hetmyer comes charging across from long off, putting in a late dive to pouch it brilliantly with both hands. The third umpire has a quick look at the legality of the catch, but it's all fine.

JUST IN - India have announced their T20I squad for the tour of New Zealand later this month. The headline news is the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returns to the Indian setup after 2022 on the back of his exploits in the IPL.

FOUR! Slammed away this time by Abhishek. Flatter one around off, Sharma makes room leg side and gets enough width to slap it over the point region for a boundary.

Straighter one at 93 clicks, Sanju Samson taps it down to long on and milks a single.

Sherfane Rutherford is getting his left wrist strapped up. Roston Chase comes into the attack as the first change.

Forced over the off side. Pushed through on a length and on leg, Abhishek Sharma once again backs away and ends up slicing it over the cover region. Sherfane Rutherford at extra cover runs after it and chases it down, keeping it down to two runs.

The attempted arm-ball now. Full and straight, Sanju Samson defends it off the inside edge to mid-wicket and pinches a run.

Not enough power behind it. Good length around leg, Abhishek Sharma backs away and lofts it straight back over the bowler's head. The ball lands well to the right of Rovman Powell at long on and plugs, and the batters pick up a single.

Pitched around the leg stump, pushing the ball towards the pads. Sharma nudges it 'round the corner on the leg side.

Hosein gets lucky here. The length is pulled back, and this is bowled short and wide outside off. Samson goes after it but finds the man at covers, who makes a half-stop, and it will only be a single.

FOUR! An eye-catching shot from Samson. Floated up wide outside off, slightly turning away. Samson extends his arms, smacking it down through covers for a boundary.

It will be spin from the other end. Here's Akeal Hosein.

Forde comes over the wicket and gets the ball to nip away from the left-hander. Sharma leaves it alone. 15 off the first over, and India's chase is off to a flier.

FOUR! Too straight this time. Sliding it into the pads, not looking to actually swing the ball. Sharma just flicks it off the legs and the ball skips down to long leg for a boundary.

Much better length from Forde. Pitched fuller on off and middle, Abhishek Sharma gets his hands out in front to make the block.

FOUR! It all seems too easy for Sharma at the moment. Back of a length again from Forde, wider of the off stump. Abhishek stands tall and punches it through covers for a boundary.

SIX! Abhishek Sharma gets off the mark in Abhishek Sharma style. Back of a length over off and middle, sitting up a bit. Sharma just lays into it and clubs it over long on for a biggie.

Some swing right away for Forde. Good length, slanting back into the pads. Sanju Samson tucks it down through square leg and gets off the mark with a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! That is it! West Indies have been bowled out for 171, with 5 balls left in the innings. Axar Patel comes back to bowl the final over, against two left-handers, but that's no worry for him. Axar bowls it on a good length, pushing it across the left-hander. Akeal Hosein goes deep in the crease, trying to tonk the ball over deep mid-wicket, but gets more height than distance. The ball sails down to cow corner, where Ishan Kishan reverse-cups it with ease, and Patel ends with two wickets to his name.

Axar Patel to bowl the last over. 3-1-26-1 so far for Axar.

Banged in short, angling it across off. Shamar Joseph backs away to take it on, but misses by a long way.

Shamar Joseph is the last man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sherfane Rutherford pays the price for turning down the single on the previous ball, and he is livid with himself. Another cutter from Mayank Yadav, but this time it is bowled fuller and at the stumps. Rutherford moves inside the line, looking to whip it away into the gap at deep mid-wicket, but he ends up hitting it straight down the throat of the fielder in the deep. Naman Dhir takes a straightforward catch, and Rutherford's fine knock has come to an end. West Indies are 171/9.

Oh, Rutherford refuses the single here. Very interesting. Full and straight, driven with great timing and back down the ground, towards long off. Akeal Hosein is halfway down the pitch when Rutherford tells him to go back.

SIX! Mayank Yadav persists with the slower one, and Rutherford keeps putting them away. Short and over middle and leg, enough time for the batter to line it up. Rutherford waits back and swings it high and behind square leg for a biggie.

Slower one, angled across off. Akeal Hosein swings and misses. Sanju Samson gets a bad bounce and parries it behind, conceding a bye.

FOUR! Nicely struck by Akeal. Bashed in on a hard length, around off. Akeal Hosein stands tall and slaps it down the ground, to the left of long off for a boundary.

A couple of good overs for West Indies. Mayank Yadav will bowl out now, which should leave Axar Patel to close out the innings. Unless, of course, Shreyas Iyer wants to avoid bowling Axar with two left-handers at the crease and opts for Shivam Dube instead.

FOUR! Sublime timing from Sherfane Rutherford to bring up his FIFTY. This has been a fine counter-attacking knock from the southpaw. Full and around off, looking for some reverse swing. Rutherford gets nicely forward and drills it wide of long off. Shreyas Iyer runs to his right and slides across to cut it off, but his legs are touching the ropes when he flicks the ball back in.

Slower again, pitched up wide outside off. Hosein caresses the square drive to the left of point for a single.

SIX! Picked up and dispatched! The slower balls aren't quite working out for the Indian pacers. Dug in short over middle and leg, Hosein gets inside the line and swings it off his hips, over long leg for a biggie. 150 up for West Indies.

Hard length over middle, Hosein uses his wrists to maneuver the ball to the left of the diving mid-wicket fielder, picking up a couple of handy runs in the deep.

Top delivery! The inswinging yorker on off, tailing back in a bit, late, too. Rutherford jams the bat down, squeezing it through short fine leg for a run.

Back of a length, angled in over middle at 136.1 kph. Akeal Hosein hops back and dabs it down through point for a single.

Arshdeep Singh (3-0-19-1) returns for his final over.

FOUR! Mayank Yadav is overdoing it with the slower balls right now. Pace off again, fractionally short and wide outside off. Rutherford waits back and cuts it down to the vacant deep backward point region for another boundary.

FOUR! Sloppy in the deep by Abhishek Sharma, but that was nicely controlled by Rutherford. Slower and shorter, around hip height. Rutherford pulls it away to the right of deep square leg and picks up a boundary.

Yadav spears it in at the pads, pitching the ball outside leg. Rutherford fails to pick it up over the leg side and gets hit on the pads.

Short of a good length, around leg. Sherfane Rutherford looks to swivel and pull but is undone by the extra pace and gets hit around the midriff.

Hard length, slanting it across off and middle at 143.7 kph. Hosein gets a bit squared up but manages to nudge it through backward point for a run.

Length ball on middle and leg, Rutherford whips it off the pads, hitting it aerially and on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pace back on through Mayank Yadav. The right-arm speedster has gone for 20 runs from his 2 overs.

A dot to finish, and Naman Dhir finishes with excellent figures of 3/31 on his T20I debut. Flighted ball, on a length and attacking off stump. Akeal Hosein gets forward to make the block.

The slide continues. From 107/3, West Indies have slipped to 135/8. Akeal Hosein is in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT! Surely not again, right? For a third time this evening, Naman Dhir has picked up a wicket instantly after being hit for a six, and West Indies are now 8 down for 135. Dhir goes back to cover the wicket, floating it up very full on middle and leg. Shamar Springer takes the front leg out, looking to club it over deep mid-wicket but mistimes it in front of mid-wicket. Axar Patel comes in a bit from the deep and pouches it safely.

SIX! That's been swatted down the ground. Bowled from around the wicket, flatter and on a good length, pushing it across the right-hander. Shamar Springer rocks back and drags it flat over long on for a biggie.

On the shorter side and over middle, Springer looks to whack the pull over mid-wicket but gets a big inside edge onto the pads.

Fuller one, drifted into the pads, and Dhir gets it to turn as well. Rutherford leans on and smothers it in front of mid-wicket for a single.

A genuine half-tracker, angled down leg. Shamar Springer rocks back and pulls it down to deep backward square leg for just a single. That should have been put away.

Will Naman Dhir bowl out? Yes, he will.

On the pads, on a length. Sherfane fails to help it away and gets hit on the pads.

Was that a chance? Short and around off, Springer hangs back to deal with the googly. He is beaten on the inside edge before the ball pings Sanju Samson on the left knee and deflects behind. The batters cross over. Given as a run, so there might have been an inside edge.

Drifts it on the pads, on a length. Rutherford flicks it behind square leg and turns the strike over.

Floated up, on middle. Springer knocks it to long off for a single.

Another googly, full and around off. Shamar does not pick the variation and defends inside the line. He is beaten past the outside edge.

Some catch, that, by Ishan Kishan and India now have complete control of this first innings. Also, Shamar Springer walks out to bat next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ishan Kishan has surprised himself and everyone with how he has pulled off that grab. Not the best of balls by Kuldeep as he drags it down, it is the googly, on middle. Forde rocks back for the pull but does not quite get the desired elevation. Hits it flat towards deep mid-wicket. Ishan Kishan loses sight of the ball against the lights and the backdrop of the crowd, but keeps running to his left, hoping to get close enough. At the last moment, he slides and sticks out both hands. The ball somehow sticks in his left hand, and he manages to cling on.

Fired in full, on middle. Forde clips it in front of square on the leg side and picks up a single.

On a length, on off and middle. Forde gives the bowler a pre-meditated charge and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Angled in at the pads, Rutherford clips it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

On a good length, on middle. Forde goes back in the crease and flicks it away through mid-wicket for a single.

West Indies keeps hemorrhaging wickets. Matthew Forde is the next batter in at number 8.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Clever bowling by Naman Dhir, and he has his reward. Romario Shepherd tries to repeat the dose, but it does not come off for him. Dhir is brave to toss it up again but makes the batter reach for it by bowling it full and wide. Romario is tempted by the flight and has a swing at it. Ends up slicing it high in the air and he does not get enough bat on it to clear the fence. Tilak Varma steadies himself on the long off boundary and takes a safe catch. From 107/3, West Indies are now 121/6.

SIX! Swung away with the spin! Flighted delivery, a bit too full and it spins back in the arc, on middle and leg. Shepherd clears the front leg and clubs it with the turn over deep square leg for half a dozen.

This is on a good length, on middle. Shepherd rocks back and knocks it to long on for a single.

Shorter and on middle. Shepherd tucks it to mid-wicket from the crease.

Around off from around the wicket, on a length, on off. Romario angles it to backward point.

The next batter is Romario Shepherd.

OUT! LBW! Trapped in front. Kuldeep Yadav gets his radar right and strikes. It is the leg break bowled on a flatter trajectory, turning back in on middle. Chase goes back in the crease to a ball he was better off being forward to. He plays all around it, with the ball spinning past the inside edge and hitting the pads right in front of the stumps. India go up in unison, and the finger is raised. West Indies are now 5 down for 114.

FOUR! Nicely done. Kuldeep attempts the googly but dishes out a low full toss, on middle. Chase reaches out in front and presents the full face of the bat. He does not try to overhit this one and just drives it back past the bowler's left, leaving the long off fielder no chance of cutting it off.

Full and on middle, driven back past the diving bowler for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav (2-0-24-0) is back on.

Had to hurry! Full and on off. Rutherford taps it wide of extra cover and scampers through for a quick single. Shreyas Iyer charges across to his left but fails to pick the ball up cleanly, allowing Sherfane to make his ground.

Spinning back in sharply, fractionally short, on middle. Chase goes deep in the crease and nurdles it square on the leg side for a single.

Roston Chase walks out to bat next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Naman Dhir answers right back to pick up his maiden T20I wicket. Fifty and out for Shai Hope. Dhir drags the length back and slows it down as well, on middle. Hope hops back in the crease and shapes up for the pull. He does not quite get hold of it, and it goes only as far as deep mid-wicket, where Axar Patel takes a reverse-cup catch around his chest. A timely breakthrough for India as the 63-run stand comes to an end.

SIX! High and handsome. Shai Hope brings up his FIFTY in style, the 13th of his T20I career. Twin hundreds in the ODI series and the Windies skipper has carried that form into the T20Is. At the sticks, on a length, not all that full but Hope clears the front leg and pumps it over wide long on for a biggie.

Speared in at the pads, on a good length. Rutherford swings to get it away behind square leg with the angle but fails to make any connection.

Full and drifting in, on middle. Rutherford blocks it out.

West Indies are flying high again after that mini collapse towards the end of the Powerplay.

On the pads, on a nagging length. Sherfane wrists it through mid-wicket for a single. 18 runs off the over and the 100 is up for West Indies.

SIX! Into the stands! Sherfane Rutherford is taking down India's best bowler on show tonight. Flighted up, on middle and leg. Right in the wheelhouse for Rutherford, who nails the slog sweep and dumps it way beyond the deep mid-wicket fence.

FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective. From around the wicket, darted across the left-hander. Rutherford gets into the position early and brings out the reverse. He gets it over backward point, and the outfield does the rest.

Fired in at the pads, on the fuller side. Rutherford sinks to a knee and swipes it away to the left of the man at deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Flatter and shorter, on off, that is punched off the back foot past cover for a single.

FOUR! Off the edge. Floated up, on off. Hope has a big swing at it. It goes behind towards short third off an outside edge. Mayank Yadav moves to his left and dives. He gets a bit of hand on it but it is not enough as the ball trickles to the fence. Axar feels Mayank should have done better there.

DRINKS BREAK! Time for a breather with things evenly poised at the moment. West Indies have recovered well from the wobble late in the Powerplay thanks to the two experienced batters at the crease. From their perspective, this pair will have to bat deep with the likes of Romario Shepherd and Matthew Forde waiting in the wings. Axar Patel has been the pick of the Indian bowlers so far, while Arshdeep Singh has not been too bad either. With the others leaking runs, though, it does leave Shreyas Iyer with a bit of a headache in managing his bowling options. Axar to bowl after the break.

A dot ball to end, and after 10 overs, West Indies are 82/3. Tossed up on off and middle, Rutherford decides to lean on and just block it out. 6 runs off Dhir's first over.

More evidence of turn on this deck. Dhir imparts more revs on the ball, floating it up fuller on off. Rutherford is drawn forward to defend but the ball turns away past the outside edge.

FOUR! Put away nicely by Rutherford. A tad too short and wide, Rutherford rocks back and cuts it well to the right of the fielder at sweeper cover, who can't cut it out with a dive.

This is lobbed up wide outside off, landing it just inside the tramline. Rutherford leaves it alone in hopes of a wide, but won't get it.

On a good length, turning into the pads. Hope stays back and tucks it through mid-wicket for a run more.

Gets away with it, does Naman Dhir. Floated up fuller and down leg. Rutherford sits down and sweeps it straight to the fielder at fine leg for just a single.

Naman Dhir to roll his arm over now on his T20I debut.

SIX! Slogged away by Hope, making it 15 runs in the over. Tossed up at the stumps, Shai Hope sets up for the slog-sweep but has to reach for the ball, and he still ends up powering it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Flatter trajectory, bowled around off, and this one skids through after pitching. Rutherford hangs back to cut, but ends up chopping it towards backward point for a single.

Dragged shorter on off, Hope presses back and works it to deep square leg for a run.

Pushed through flatter and at the stumps, Hope plays it back down the pitch.

Good, positive running from these two. Floated up around off, Rutherford leans on and pushes it away to covers for a quick single.

SIX! Clean hit! Tossed up on off, turning away, and a bit too full as well. Rutherford hits with the turn and slams it over wide long off for a biggie.

FOUR LEG BYES! Yet another pace-off delivery, this time bowled into the deck. Shai Hope reaches forward for the pull shot but is undone and the ball eventually goes off his body, rolling away past the keeper and into the deep third fence.

Hope tries to get funky here. Good length around off, Hope goes for the reverse scoop but manages to get very little bat on it, miscuing it towards the keeper. Replays later show that the ball actually grazed the off stump, but the bails didn't fall off.

Another slower one from Mayank to Hope. At just 108.2 kph and on a good length, angled into the pads. Hope flicks it down to long leg and picks up two runs.

Back of a length, angling it across the left-hander. Rutherford leans back and mistimes the pull through mid on for one.

Pace off from Yadav, a tad shorter as well. Hope swipes across the line, hitting it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Bashed in on a hard length and pushed wide outside off. Shai Hope goes chasing after a wide one, but fails to reach it.

Mayank Yadav is back into the attack. Round two of the battle between Hope and Yadav, with the West Indies skipper winning the first round by taking him for 4 boundaries. Can Yadav hit back this time?

A ripper from KD to end the over! Tossed up on off and middle, dipping on the batter. Sherfane Rutherford gets forward to block but the ball turns away sharply and beats the outside edge by a mile.

FOUR! Rutherford nearly gets undone but will collect a streaky boundary instead. A flatter wrong'un, on off and coming back in. Rutherford is stuck on the crease, trying to block, but he gets an inside edge through the legs and the ball runs away to the fine leg fence. 50 UP FOR WEST INDIES.

Flatter and drifted into the legs, Hope works it off the back foot and through square leg for a run.

Flighted delivery on off, this one goes away from the right-hander. Hope goes inside-out with the spin, lifting it between sweeper cover and long off for a couple of runs more.

A bit fuller now, on off. Hope reads the length really late and jams it back down the pitch.

Nagging length, bowled flatter and turning it into middle and leg. Shai Hope hops back and across a bit, tucking it behind square leg for a brace.

Done with the Powerplay, which was a tale of two halves. First 3 overs - 28/0 | Last 3 overs - 16/3. Kuldeep Yadav has been tossed the ball.

Wow, a double-wicket maiden to close out the Powerplay. Axar Patel comes over the wicket to the left-hander, pushing the ball in from around off stump. Sherfane Rutherford lunges ahead to defend.

Well, well, 38/0 has become 44/3 for West Indies. Sherfane Rutherford makes his way out to bat.

OUT! BOWLED! Oh, deary me. Rovman Powell tries to put some pressure back on the bowler, but pays a hefty price. Axar Patel keeps drifting the ball in with the arm, and bowls this one on a nagging length on off and middle. Powell sits down for the big slog sweep, trying to swing it with the angle, but he is beaten in the flight. The ball sneaks under the bat and crashes into the stumps, leaving West Indies reeling at 44/3. Powell walks back for a three-ball duck.

Stump-to-stump again from Patel. Powell shows him respect by blocking it out.

Axar drags the length back, darting it back in towards the stumps. Rovman Powell watchfully defends.

The new batter is Rovman Powell. Shreyas Iyer has positioned himself at slip.

OUT! HETMYER IS RUN OUT! A wicket out of nowhere, and that is lazy running from these two batters. Shimron Hetmyer feels he shouldn't be given out, but with no part of the bat being grounded inside the crease, he has to walk back. Axar Patel tosses the ball up full and on off. Shai Hope makes room to drive but Axar dives to his left and parries the ball to extra cover. The batters set off for a quick single, but Shreyas Iyer attacks the ball really well and fires in a throw towards the keeper. Sanju Samson collects and dislodges the bails. Hetmyer dives in but the bat thuds into the surface and lobs up before going inside the crease, and West Indies are now 2 down for 44.

Run out check! No real interest from any of the Indian players, and Shimron Hetmyer does not look concerned either. The bat has bounced off the shoulder of the blade, but the question is whether any part of it was grounded inside the crease before the stumps were broken. The third umpire takes a closer look and eventually concludes that no part of Hetmyer's bat was ever grounded inside the crease. Hetmyer is perplexed by the decision, but there is nothing he can do about it now.

The in-drifter, on a fullish length and attacking the stumps. Shai Hope tentatively gets forward to defend.

Keeping it near the tramline, it is the off-pace delivery, on a good length. Hope reaches out and cuts it wide of cover without much timing for one.

Much better by Arshdeep. A hint of away shape, on a length, around off. Shimron waits on it and dabs it to the right of backward point for a single.

FOUR! Hetmyer is off the mark straight away. A little too straight by Arshdeep, on the pads and too full as well. Hetmyer brings his wrists into play and flicks it behind square leg. The ball skips across the turf and the man in the deep is beaten to his left.

Giving Arshdeep an extended spell does work out for India. Out walks Shimron Hetmyer at number 3 for West Indies.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Arshdeep Singh gives India the first breakthrough. Slips in the yorker, just outside the off stump, and it swings back ever so slightly. Pooran gets his bat down, looking to work the angle and play it behind point. Ends up dragging the ball onto the off stump off an inside edge. End of a 38-run opening stand for West Indies.

Bye! Slower one, angled away from the right-hander but it is within the tramline. Hope extends his hands to push it away but fails to make any connection. Sanju Samson gets on his knee to make the stop but it is parried away off his body to his left and the batters are quick to sneak in a bye.

At 131.9 kph, very full, around off. Kamil backs away and drills it to deep cover for a single.

Arshdeep Singh to bowl three overs upfront.

Angled in again, full and on off. Pooran lofts it towards wide long off and retains the strike with a single.

FOUR! Good movement in the crease. Floated up, on middle. With the field up on the off side, Pooran backs away and gets a bit low to be able to get under the ball. Carves it over the in-field on the off side and picks up a boundary.

This is pushed through, on a length, on middle. Hope presents a straight bat and eases it to long off for one.

Slower and shorter, on middle. Pooran hangs back and nurdles it square on the leg side for a run.

Slower through the air and a bit of air given, full and on middle. Hope makes a bit of room and slams it towards wide long off, where the fielder picks it up on the bounce. They cross.

Sliding on with the arm from around the wicket, on a length, at the sticks. Hope shapes up to go through the off side but mistimes the shot back towards the bowler.

Will we see an early bowling change? Yes, indeed. Axar Patel replaces Mayank Yadav.

Gets the yorker in, outside off. Pooran tries to steer it behind point but ends up miscuing it towards cover off the toe end of the blade. A good comeback by Arshdeep after the error on the first ball.

Arshdeep bends his back and digs it in short, over middle. Pooran swings across for the pull but the ball sails over his blade.

Pace taken off, bowled at 119.4 kph, on a back of a length, outside off. Shai reaches out and taps it wide of extra cover for a single.

Nails the yorker, on off. Kamil digs it out on the off side and takes a single.

Pushed across the right-hander, full in length. Kamil flashes but the ball stays out of his reach.

Very full, on middle and leg. Pooran can't get under it and mistimes the drive to mid off.

NO BALL, FOUR! Kamil Pooran is up and running in international cricket.  Arshdeep goes full in search of swing but ends up serving an above-waist full toss, outside off. Pooran arches back and uses the pace and angle of the ball, gliding it behind point for his first boundary. Free Hit coming up.

FOUR! That has rocketed to the fence. Mayank Yadav has been taken to the cleaners. At pace, full and attacking the sticks. Hope exposes all three stumps, gets his hands through the line of the ball and smashes it through covers for the 4th four of the over.

FOUR! Mayank becomes predictable with the slower one and Hope makes him pay. On a good length, it is the off-cutter, on off. Hope waits for the ball to arrive and holds his bat swing before tonking it over mid off for a four.

Bowled by holding the seam upright but it comes on slower than the batter anticipated, on a short of a length, on off. Hope has an ungainly hoick across the line but gets a bottom edge and it dribbles behind towards the keeper.

Good change-up by Mayank as he takes pace off and floats it up, on off. Hope backs away and has a swing at it but he does not pick the change of pace. Mistimes it off the toe end to the left of the bowler.

FOUR! Hit with absolute authority. Hope has picked up from where he left off in the ODIs. Mayank drags the length back but this sits up to be hit, on middle. Hope makes room for himself and spanks with a horizontal bat over the bowler's head, leaving the mid on fielder no chance.

FOUR! Nicely done. Speared in at 147 clicks first up, bowled on a length and it is angled into the pads. Hope shuffles a bit towards the leg side and gets the front pad out of the way before whipping it over mid-wicket for a four.

Consistent swing in that first over for Arshdeep Singh. Let's see how long it lasts. Here's Mayank Yadav to steam in from the other end.

At 129.4 kph, low full toss and it curves back in, on middle and leg. Hope calmly tucks it to the right of mid on for a single.

Tailing back in this time, on a length. Shai knocks it on the up towards mid off.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Singh goes fuller in search of swing, around off. Hope opens up the front hip and swings through the line of the ball. Launches it up and over mid off for the first boundary of the contest.

This is pushed across the right-hander, on a back of a length. Hope extends his hands and attempts to punch it away on the up but mistimes the shot and chops it down on the off side.

Shai Hope has called for the physio. The ball just missed the pad and hit Hope on the inside of his thigh, an area which is unprotected and he's feeling the pain here. Thankfully, all seems fine and Hope is good to continue.

Half a shout for LBW! Arshdeep brings it back into the right-hander this time and the length is pulled back too. Hope hangs back to deal with it but is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit in the unprotected area between the pad and the thigh pad. It is in line with the leg stump, but the front-on replays indicate that the ball might have gone over the sticks. India contemplate but eventually decide against the review.

A little bit of swing up front for Arshdeep. Moving away in the air, on a length. Hope pushes out in front of his body. The ball seemed to have stopped on him as he checked his drive to mid off.

Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings, and it is now time to play. The bell is rung, and the umpires are in their positions. The Indian players also spread out on the field. It will be debutant Kamil Pooran to open the batting alongside skipper Shai Hope for West Indies. Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand, and he's raring to go. Let's play...

We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game. But first, the two sets of players line up for their respective national anthems. It will be the West Indies' 'Rally 'Round the West Indies,' followed by India's national song 'Vande Mataram,' and then the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana.'

West Indies (Playing XI) - Shai Hope (C/WK), Kamil Pooran (On T20I debut), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Springer, and Shamar Joseph.

India (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir (On T20I debut), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh.

The skipper of West Indies - Shai Hope says he would have bowled first as well, feeling it is always better to chase in India, considering the dew factor, while the wicket also tends to get better as the game progresses. He stresses that adapting to the conditions will be key. On the T20 specialists linking up with the squad, Hope says they have experienced players who know these conditions well, and the team will lean on their experience throughout the series. He also confirms that West Indies are going in with six bowling options, including the all-rounders.

The captain of India - Shreyas Iyer decides to bowl first, citing the surface as the reason, which is a mixed-soil surface, and they are anticipating some dew later on as well. Iyer reflects on the recent Asian Games Gold medal and says that the travel has been hectic and feels that today's game is going to be a challenge. Adds that in the last couple of years, West Indies have done well in T20Is, and they are an unpredictable side and are well led by Shai Hope. Iyer ends by informing that the likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi miss out.

TOSS - It is time for the coin to go up in Lucknow. 'Heads' is the call from Shai Hope, but it has come down as a Tail. India opt to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Ian Bishop starts by saying that the climatic conditions are pretty cool and the outfield seems lightning quick, with very low-cut grass. Bishop also informs that the ground staff have used anti-dew spray to make it an even contest. Bishop then goes on to talk about the dimensions, saying that the square boundaries are 64 meters on either side, and the straight hit is 74 meters. Abhinav Mukund joins Bishop out in the middle and gives insights on the actual playing surface, mentioning that this venue is one of the most difficult ones to read because the pitch has a mixture of black and red soil in a 25-75 per cent ratio. Mukund also feels that the spinners will be in play and the side batting first has a good chance of winning, but chasing is still the way to go. He ends by saying that it looks like a 170-180 kind of surface.

Debut alert - Naman Dhir has received his maiden cap in the huddle from Arshdeep Singh and is all set to make his T20I debut. What a few days it has been for the man from Punjab, who made his ODI debut just last week and is now set to add another format to his international career. Dhir was initially named only in the ODI squad, but was later added to the T20I setup after Washington Sundar was withdrawn, with the selectors keen for Sundar to get some red-ball cricket under his belt.

End of an era - In case you missed it, earlier today, Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as India's captain across all three formats. It brings the curtain down on a decade-long leadership journey that began when she took over as T20I captain in 2016, before going on to lead India across formats. During her tenure, she led India to three Asia Cup titles, two Asian Games gold medals and, most notably, their maiden ODI World Cup triumph in 2025. She also became the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a side in more than 150 T20Is. Kaur will continue to play for India, but when they welcome Zimbabwe later this month for three ODIs and as many T20Is, a new captain will be at the helm.

A different beast in T20s - West Indies have never beaten India in a T20I series in India, but the Men in Maroon will draw confidence from their performances earlier in the year at the T20 World Cup. T20Is are undoubtedly their strongest of the three formats, and with stars like Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd present in their ranks, they will believe that they have it in them to challenge India. Settle in, because if Windies bring their A game to the table, we could have a cracking start to the series.

What will be India's opening combination? That has been a question of real intrigue ever since Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has come into the mix. At the Asian Games, all three, Samson, Vaibhav and Abhishek, found a way into the XI, forming the top order between them. Most signs do point to India reverting to the tried and tested pairing of Abhishek and Samson at the top, with Vaibhav having to wait for his next opportunity. On the pace bowling front, it is an opportunity for the two Yadavs, Mayank and Prince, to impress and stake their claim for a regular spot in the XI, with bigger assignments on the horizon.

Muskuraiye, aap Lucknow mein hain - A phrase that translates to 'Smile, you are in Lucknow,' one you will likely spot the moment you step off the plane. Known for its warmth, its culture, and its timeless charm, the city of Nawabs has always had a way of making you feel right at home. Tonight, it plays host to India and West Indies as they square off in the first of five T20Is, with both sides looking to make a statement right from the word go.

... MATCH DAY ...

A new chapter begins in Lucknow - India and West Indies begin their five-match T20I series at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, with both sides arriving with plenty of confidence but also a point to prove. India may have taken the ODI series 2-1, but West Indies finished strongly by winning the third game and showed throughout the series that they have enough quality to trouble the hosts. In fact, they may feel they left an even bigger opportunity behind after India chased down more than 400 in the second ODI, with the West Indies bowling attack unable to defend what was the first 400-plus ODI total in their history. Now, with both teams moving into a different format and India bringing a considerably changed squad, the focus shifts to who can make the quicker adjustment. Changed yet lethal - India arrive with the confidence of having just won gold at the 2026 Asian Games, beating Pakistan in the final, and there is plenty of momentum around this group. The personnel may look different without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, but the depth of India's T20 setup means the reigning T20 World Champions still have an intimidating amount of quality. Abhishek setting the tone - Abhishek Sharma is arguably the player to watch after an extraordinary run of form. He smashed a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan, the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation, and finished that series as Player of the Series after scoring 229 runs at a staggering strike rate of 269.41. He carried that momentum straight into the Asian Games final, where his 61 off just 28 balls proved crucial in India's victory over Pakistan. If he can reproduce anything close to that level of aggression, West Indies could find themselves under pressure very early in the innings. Sooryavanshi ready for the next step - There is perhaps no teenager in world cricket generating more attention right now than Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His T20I sample remains small, but a strike rate of 186.36 tells its own story, and his ability to complement Abhishek at the top gives India another explosive option. The next challenge is turning those quick starts into substantial scores more consistently. What has stood out, though, is his team-first mindset, something that underlines the maturity he has already shown despite his age. Plenty more waiting behind them - Sanju Samson has seen his form dip slightly after consecutive fifties in the Afghanistan series, but there is no doubting the quality he possesses. And if the top three fail to make an impact, India have arguably their most in-form T20 batter waiting in Ishan Kishan. Kishan became only the second Indian batter after Suryakumar Yadav to cross 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year, while his unbeaten 80 off 46 against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-final was another reminder of how much his game has developed. That innings came on a turning surface where most batters struggled, making his ability to adapt particularly impressive. Shreyas Iyer's recent form is a slight concern, but his influence goes beyond his own runs. As captain, his tactical awareness and leadership will be vital in a side packed with attacking options. His deputy Tilak Varma, meanwhile, produced a crucial fifty against Pakistan in the Asian Games final, and pressure situations have often brought the best out of him. Firepower all the way down - India's depth does not stop with the top order. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube give the middle and lower order plenty of power, with Reddy also providing a valuable bowling option after taking back-to-back three-wicket hauls against Afghanistan. Dube has also shown that he can chip in with wickets, although keeping his economy under control will remain important. Axar Patel now has greater responsibility as the team's finger-spin all-rounder following Washington Sundar's withdrawal from the squad to prepare for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Naman Dhir has been called up as his replacement and could be in line for a T20I debut during the series. There is also plenty of variety in India's spin department. Kuldeep Yadav, who was highly effective in the ODI series against West Indies, brings his left-arm wrist-spin option, although this will be his first T20I appearance for India since the T20 World Cup at the start of 2026. Ravi Bishnoi provides another leg-spin option, though his recent returns have been less convincing but his record at this stadium is a good one, having picked up 20 wickets in T20s. India could also turn to Abhishek's off-spin if they want to strengthen another area of the XI. The pace attack needs no introduction - There is little that needs to be said about Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Bumrah will be expected to do what Bumrah does, while Arshdeep will be eager to make his mark after not getting a game during the Asian Games, where the slower surfaces in Japan meant India opted against using him. There could also be an opportunity for the next wave. Mayank Yadav's express pace gives India something completely different, while Prince Yadav has built a reputation around his accurate yorkers. Either could make a statement if handed an opportunity. It is, quite simply, a stacked squad from top to bottom, and one that underlines why India currently sit at the summit of the T20 game. Windies looking to turn potential into results - West Indies once ruled this format, winning the T20 World Cup twice, but the retirement of several of their biggest stars, including Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, has seen them lose some of that aura. Yet the talent has never disappeared, and Darren Sammy has a squad capable of causing serious problems if everything clicks. The ODI series offered plenty of encouragement. Shai Hope will be particularly high on confidence after producing back-to-back hundreds, including a sensational unbeaten 162 in the third ODI. As captain and one of their most reliable batters, he will once again be central to their hopes. Amir Jangoo also enjoyed an outstanding ODI series, scoring two fifties and a hundred across the three matches. The challenge now is carrying that form across formats. A chance to make a statement - Shimron Hetmyer arrives after an excellent Caribbean Premier League campaign, where he scored 367 runs in 12 innings, including a hundred in Qualifier 2 against Jamaica Kingsmen, although his effort came in a losing cause. Rovman Powell was another key contributor, scoring 261 runs as Jamaica reached the CPL final, while Kamil Pooran's 273 runs in only eight innings earned him a call-up to the national side. He is now in line for a T20I debut.  Sherfane Rutherford, meanwhile, is going through a lean patch, but he remains the kind of batter who can change a match almost instantly when he gets going. Quentin Sampson and Jewel Andrew add further options, while Romario Shepherd brings considerable experience and arrives as a two-time IPL winner with RCB. Roston Chase and Keemo Paul also give the side useful all-round depth, with Paul back in the T20I setup after last playing for West Indies in the format in 2022 following a strong run of domestic performances. Shamar Springer adds another option with the ability to contribute with both bat and ball. Battle with the ball - Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph are expected to lead the pace attack, while Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein provide the spin options. Hosein could be particularly interesting on this surface. His ability to operate with the new ball could bring him into direct confrontation with India's aggressive openers, especially if West Indies decide to attack early rather than simply wait for the pitch to dictate terms. A look at the conditions - The Ekana Stadium is unlikely to offer a straightforward batting paradise, with the average first-innings score sitting around 173 and the surface tending to be on the slower side. That could bring the spinners and change-of-pace bowlers into the game, while batters will need to find the right balance between aggression and shot selection. There is also a little bit of history between these sides here. The first-ever T20I played at the Ekana Stadium was between India and West Indies in 2018, with the hosts coming out on top. India will be hoping the venue once again proves a happy hunting ground. History favours the Men in Blue - India hold a sizeable advantage in the overall T20I head-to-head, winning 20 of the 31 meetings between the sides, with West Indies claiming 10 and one ending without a result. However, the visitors can point to the most recent series between the two sides, which they won 3-2 in 2023. A lot has changed since then, particularly for India, but that result is a reminder that West Indies know how to compete against them in this format. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - IND - WWWWW | WI - WLWLL. Who strikes first? Both sides have plenty at stake as they look to start the five-match series on the right note. India will want to carry their recent momentum into a new-look T20 setup, while West Indies will be determined to turn the promise they have shown into a complete performance. With conditions in Lucknow likely to test the batters and keep the bowlers interested, the side that adapts quicker could have the early edge. The stage is set, and we could be in for a fascinating start to the series.