West Indies Beat India in Fourth T20I to Level Series 2-2
HYDERABAD: West Indies produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday, levelling the five-match series 2-2 and setting up a decider in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Chasing a daunting 248, India were bowled out for 223 in 19.3 overs, their innings ending when Arshdeep Singh retired hurt after being struck on the arm. The result keeps West Indies’ hopes of a series win alive ahead of the final match.
Hope’s masterclass
Captain Shai Hope was the star of the night, smashing an unbeaten 102 off just 50 balls in the West Indies India fourth T20I. His innings featured four boundaries and nine sixes at a strike rate of 204, and he reached his century with consecutive sixes off the final over.
It was Hope’s second century of the series and his third in T20 internationals, continuing a remarkable tour for the West Indies skipper. He received strong support from Sherfane Rutherford, who remained unbeaten on 49 off 26 deliveries, as the pair added an unbroken 91 runs for the fourth wicket.
Shimron Hetmyer provided the early fireworks with 33 off just 12 balls, while Rovman Powell chipped in with 24 off 17. Sent in to bat after India won the toss, West Indies raced to 79 for 1 in the powerplay — their highest powerplay total against India in the format — and reached their hundred in only 7.4 overs.
Paul’s five-for seals it
India’s chase began brightly but unravelled against disciplined bowling. Sanju Samson top-scored with 56 off 23 balls, Tilak Varma made 43 off 25, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 41 off 20, but the required rate kept climbing.
Keemo Paul was the chief destroyer, returning figures of 5 for 41 in his four overs to headline the bowling effort. Gudakesh Motie claimed two wickets, while Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer chipped in with one apiece.
India’s bowlers had earlier struggled for control. Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav both conceded 52 runs in their four-over spells, while Axar Patel gave away 45. Prince Yadav was the most economical of the lot with 1 for 36.
Series on the line
The victory was significant for the visitors, who had not beaten India in a T20I on Indian soil since 2019 before this tour. With the series now level at 2-2, Saturday’s decider in Bengaluru will determine the winners.
For West Indies, the result is another bright spot on a tour that has already produced memorable performances. The squad changes for the Bangladesh Tests — with Alzarri Joseph withdrawn and Shai Hope rested from the longer format — show a board managing workloads across formats, but the T20I side is clearly in formidable touch.
Pakistan fans will recognise the template: explosive batting up top, disciplined death bowling, and a captain leading from the front. Sahibzada Farhan’s record-breaking T20I series earlier this month showed what that combination can achieve, and Hope is currently producing the same formula for the men in maroon. The shortest format continues to deliver drama everywhere — from Maaz Sadaqat’s surge up the ICC T20I rankings to KRL’s first win of the domestic season — and Saturday’s decider promises more of the same.
Tags: West Indies vs India, T20I series, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, cricket, India tour
