Shreyas Iyer marked his first match as India’s full-time T20I captain with a stunning unbeaten century as India cruised to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening T20I in Lucknow.
Chasing 171, India reached 172/2 in just 14.4 overs, with Iyer smashing 102 not out from 43 balls. Ishan Kishan provided the perfect support with an unbeaten 37 as the pair added 137 without being separated.
The result extended India’s winning streak to 10 consecutive T20I victories.
IND vs WI: Shreyas Iyer turns the chase into a one-man show
India made a fast start after being set 171.
Abhishek Sharma attacked Matthew Forde in the opening over, hitting a six and two fours before falling for 21. Sanju Samson followed soon after, leaving India at 35/2 in the fourth over.
From there, Iyer took complete control.
The India captain ensured the Powerplay remained productive, finding four boundaries to take the hosts to 62/2 after six overs. West Indies managed to slow the scoring briefly, but Romario Shepherd’s 19-run over changed the momentum again.
Shreyas Iyer struck three fours in the over while Kishan added another boundary. India reached 102/2 after 10 overs and suddenly needed only 70 from the remaining 10.
Iyer brought up his fifty from 28 balls and then shifted into another gear.
IND vs WI: A record-breaking finish
The turning point came when Iyer hit his first six straight down the ground against Shamar Springer.
What followed was relentless.
He took a six and a four off Akeal Hosein before launching three sixes and a four against Forde. Even a couple of opportunities going India’s way could not slow him down.
Iyer reached his hundred from 42 balls by hitting Roston Chase over long-on.
It was the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian captain, behind Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 2017.
His unbeaten 102 contained 10 fours and six sixes.
Kishan watched from the other end as Iyer completed the chase with a single in the 15th over. The pair’s 137-run partnership had turned what could have been a competitive chase into a one-sided finish.
IND vs WI: West Indies lose momentum after strong start
Earlier, West Indies appeared set for a bigger total after being asked to bat first.
Shai Hope attacked immediately, hitting four boundaries in the second over from Mayank Yadav. Kamil Pooran also looked comfortable before Arshdeep Singh removed him in the fifth over.
The visitors then lost wickets regularly. Shimron Hetmyer was run out for five before Axar Patel bowled Rovman Powell for a duck.
Hope survived a close call when a slower delivery from Mayank brushed the stumps without dislodging the bails. He then found an aggressive partner in Sherfane Rutherford.
The pair rebuilt the innings through boundaries, with Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel coming under pressure.
Hope reached his half-century from 36 balls, but West Indies soon lost control.
IND vs WI: Dhir leads India’s bowling response
Debutant Naman Dhir provided the breakthrough India needed, dismissing Hope before removing Shepherd as well.
Kuldeep claimed Roston Chase and Matthew Forde, the latter thanks to a sharp catch from Kishan. Dhir then completed his three-wicket haul when Springer was caught in the deep.
West Indies fell from 107/3 to 135/8, but Rutherford and Akeal Hosein added late runs to push the total beyond 170.
Rutherford made 56 from 31 balls, while Hosein contributed a useful 24 before Axar removed him in the final over.
India eventually bowled West Indies out for 171 with five balls remaining.
It proved nowhere near enough.
Iyer’s first T20I century and India’s dominant chase gave the new captain an ideal start to his tenure, while the hosts moved one step closer to another series victory.
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