LUCKNOW, Oct 7: India began their five-match T20I series against the West Indies in dominant fashion, registering a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in the opening match at Lucknow.
Captain Shreyas Iyer led the chase with a spectacular unbeaten 102, scoring his maiden T20I century and guiding India to victory in just 14.4 overs.
West Indies, after being asked to bat first, were bowled out for 171 runs. Captain Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford provided resistance with half-centuries, scoring 52 and 56 respectively, but the Caribbean side lost four wickets in quick succession and failed to build a strong total.
India’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings, while debutant Naman Dhir impressed with three wickets.
Chasing 172, India dominated from the outset, with Iyer taking control of the innings and attacking the West Indies bowling. His unbeaten 102 ensured India comfortably reached the target with 32 balls to spare.
After the match, Iyer described his maiden T20I century as a “dream come true”, saying he and his teammates did not use fatigue or jet lag as an excuse despite returning from Japan after India’s Asian Games gold-medal triumph.
“I was thinking about my first century and dreams do come true,” Iyer said.
He praised the team’s overall performance and said that if India continued with the same mindset, they could become one of the most destructive teams in T20 cricket.
Iyer also praised Naman Dhir for his impressive debut, particularly his willingness to bowl during crucial moments and make use of the turn.
Shai Hope Admits West Indies Fell Short
West Indies captain Shai Hope admitted that his team failed to score enough runs during the latter stages of their innings.
Hope and Rutherford had added 63 runs from 35 balls, but their partnership was followed by a dramatic collapse that saw West Indies lose four wickets quickly.
“We didn’t get enough runs in the back end. We were too chaotic in batting,” Hope said, admitting that the team did not put enough runs on the board to challenge India.
Hope also felt that India’s two-spinner combination created pressure on the West Indies batting and bowling resources.
Ishan Kishan Credits Iyer’s Brilliant Knock
India opener Ishan Kishan said Iyer’s exceptional form made his own job easier during the chase.
Kishan explained that once he realised Iyer was timing the ball extremely well, his priority was simply to keep giving the strike to the India captain and allow him to maintain the momentum.
Kishan admitted that he was not at his best with the bat, but felt it was better to let Iyer take control of the innings.
With the emphatic victory, India take a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, with Iyer’s maiden international T20 century becoming the highlight of a dominant opening performance.
