Ranchi, October 2026 : A spectacular batting display led by Sanju Samson’s explosive 82 off 41 balls, Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 44 off 18 deliveries and Shreyas Iyer’s quickfire 40 off 18 balls powered India to a formidable 249/5 in 20 overs against the West Indies in the second T20 International at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday.
Samson laid the foundation for India’s imposing total with an aggressive innings, while Iyer and Tilak provided a devastating finish after the visitors briefly threatened to derail the hosts’ momentum through off-spinner Roston Chase’s three-wicket burst.
The Indian batters capitalised on the fielding restrictions during the Power-play, maintained a brisk scoring rate through the middle overs and unleashed a powerful assault in the closing stages to leave the West Indies with a daunting target.
Samson was in commanding form from the outset, taking the attack to the West Indies bowlers and finding the boundaries with remarkable consistency. His aggressive approach put the visitors under immediate pressure, with the Indian innings gathering momentum during the opening six overs.
The right-hander brought up his ninth T20I half-century in just 21 balls, equalling the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian against the West Indies in T20 Internationals. Virat Kohli had previously achieved the feat with a 21-ball fifty against the same opponents at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 2019.
Samson’s assault forced the West Indies bowlers to rethink their plans as he exploited gaps in the field and punished loose deliveries. Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd came under particular pressure as India accelerated the scoring rate.
Abhishek Sharma also made an aggressive start, scoring 20 off 12 deliveries, but his promising innings ended when Chase dismissed him with his first ball of the spell. Ishan Kishan, playing in front of his home crowd, joined Samson at the crease and settled in before increasing the tempo.
India made an emphatic start, racing to 79/1 in the Power-play and putting the West Indies attack on the defensive. The hosts continued their charge into the middle overs, reaching 127/1 at the halfway stage as Samson and Kishan kept the scoreboard moving rapidly.
Kishan complemented Samson’s aggression with a fluent knock, striking six fours and two sixes in his 43 off 22 balls. The pair repeatedly found the boundary, leaving the visitors struggling to contain the scoring.
Samson also benefited from missed opportunities in the field. Kamil Pooran and Akeal Hosein’s teammate Gudakesh Motie failed to hold on to catches, allowing the right-hander to continue his assault and make the West Indies pay for their lapses.
However, the visitors eventually found a way back into the contest through Chase, whose disciplined off-spin briefly slowed India’s charge.
In the 12th over, Chase bowled Kishan to end the local batter’s entertaining innings. He then dismissed Shivam Dube, who managed seven off 10 deliveries, dragging the left-hander onto his stumps as India lost another wicket.
Despite the setbacks, Samson continued to dominate, combining powerful hitting with well-timed strokes to keep India on course for a massive total. His innings featured nine fours and four sixes, reflecting the range and consistency of his attacking game.
Samson’s remarkable knock ended in the 15th over when Shamar Springer broke the partnership, with Kamil Pooran taking a catch in the deep to make amends for an earlier dropped opportunity. The Ranchi crowd gave Samson a standing ovation as he returned to the pavilion after registering the highest individual T20I score at the venue.
Chase finished with impressive figures of 3/24, emerging as the West Indies’ most effective bowler and briefly reviving his team’s hopes after India’s explosive start. Springer also contributed two wickets, although his four overs proved expensive.
With India needing a strong finish after the middle-order setbacks, captain Shreyas Iyer joined Tilak Varma to launch a decisive counterattack in the death overs.
Iyer struck 40 off just 18 balls, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 from the same number of deliveries. Their explosive partnership yielded 83 runs in only 32 balls, restoring India’s momentum and pushing the total well beyond the 240-run mark.
Tilak was particularly destructive in the closing stages, taking on the West Indies bowlers with a succession of boundaries and powerful sixes. He smashed three consecutive maximums during the late assault, ensuring India finished the innings on a high.
Naman Dhir also made a brief contribution, striking a four off the only ball he faced. The late surge ensured India crossed the 240-run mark despite Chase’s successful spell.
India eventually finished at 249/5 in their allotted 20 overs, setting the West Indies a challenging target that will require a substantial batting effort.
Samson’s blistering innings provided the backbone of the total, while the combined aggression of Iyer and Tilak demonstrated India’s depth and ability to accelerate under pressure. The visitors, meanwhile, will need a strong response with the bat to stay competitive in the contest.
Brief Scores: India 249/5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 82, Tilak Varma 44 not out, Shreyas Iyer 40; Roston Chase 3/24, Shamar Springer 2/64) against West Indies.
