Indore, October 2026 : Abhishek Sharma smashed a blistering 69 off just 30 deliveries, combining with Ishan Kishan in a 108-run partnership, before a late batting collapse restricted India to 223 all out in 20 overs against the West Indies in the third T20I at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.
Playing before a crowd of more than 24,000 spectators, Abhishek struck six fours and five sixes to give India the early momentum after being asked to bat first. His aggressive strokeplay, complemented by Kishan’s 37, initially put the hosts on course for a total approaching 250. However, a series of wickets, including soft dismissals and costly run-outs, allowed the visitors to regain control during the middle and death overs.
India endured a cautious start, managing just 11 runs in the first two overs. West Indies captain Roston Chase conceded only four runs in the opening over, while Shamar Joseph dismissed Sanju Samson in the second. Samson mistimed a flick against a delivery clocked at 150.8 kmph and sent it straight to mid-wicket, departing for three.
Abhishek soon transformed the innings with a remarkable display of power hitting. He opened his account with an inside-out boundary through cover-point against Chase before launching another drive over cover for six. He followed it with a second six over point, signalling India's shift towards an attacking approach.
Kishan joined the assault by striking three boundaries against Keemo Paul. The fifth over, bowled by Shamar Springer, proved particularly expensive as both batters attacked relentlessly. Kishan chipped a delivery over point for four before Abhishek struck two consecutive boundaries over cover and followed them with a six in the same region. India collected 21 runs from the over.
Joseph faced a similar onslaught in the next over. Kishan began with a cut for four, while Abhishek smashed a six over cover and chipped another delivery over mid-wicket for a boundary. A pull shot towards deep mid-wicket brought him two runs and completed his 14th T20I half-century in just 18 balls.
Abhishek continued to find gaps, squeezing another boundary past point as India finished the powerplay at 87/1. During his innings, he also became the fastest batter to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, achieving the milestone in 1,024 deliveries.
The momentum, however, shifted dramatically when Chase struck twice in the ninth over. He ended the 108-run second-wicket partnership by dismissing Kishan for 37. The batter advanced down the pitch but was cramped for room by an incoming delivery, allowing wicketkeeper Shai Hope to complete the stumping.
Chase then trapped captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for one. Abhishek departed soon afterwards, top-edging a pull shot to Springer, who completed the catch. Gudakesh Motie added another breakthrough by dismissing Naman Dhir, who holed out to long-off. Motie thereby claimed his 50th T20I wicket.
With India losing wickets in quick succession, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy attempted to rebuild the innings. Both found boundaries against Joseph in the 13th over, but Reddy's stay ended at 21 when he was caught behind off Paul.
India's recovery suffered another setback through a costly mix-up. Axar Patel flicked Motie's delivery towards deep square leg, and he and Varma exchanged a fist bump while attempting a second run, apparently believing the ball had reached the boundary. However, Kamil Pooran kept the ball in play, and Hope's throw to Motie caught Varma short of his crease. Varma was dismissed for 28.
Axar was subsequently run out for 20 after pushing a Springer delivery towards point and initially showing little interest in taking a run. Arshdeep Singh was already well down the pitch, forcing Axar to attempt a late response. Paul and Springer combined to complete the dismissal.
Springer then trapped Arshdeep lbw, leaving India struggling to maximise the final overs. Prince Yadav provided a late boost with three boundaries against Joseph, using a combination of powerful heaves, scoops and an edge. Joseph ended the innings by bowling Mayank Yadav with a sharp yorker.
India were eventually bowled out for 223 in 20 overs, a competitive total but one that fell short of the imposing score their explosive powerplay had promised.
Brief Scores: India 223 all out in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 69, Ishan Kishan 37; Roston Chase 2/38, Shamar Springer 2/50) against West Indies.
