Lucknow, October 2026 : Captain Shreyas Iyer produced a sensational unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls, while debutant Naman Dhir impressed with the ball as India stormed to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the first T20I at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.
Chasing 172 for victory, India completed the target in only 14.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The result was built around Iyer’s breathtaking maiden T20I century, which not only guided India through a tricky chase after two early wickets but also produced several statistical milestones.
Iyer reached his century from just 42 balls, making it the second-fastest T20I hundred by a batter against West Indies. Only Australia’s Tim David has reached the landmark faster, scoring his century in 37 balls in 2025.
The Indian captain also registered the fastest T20I century by an Indian against West Indies, surpassing KL Rahul’s 46-ball hundred scored in Lauderhill in 2016.
With the achievement, Iyer became only the third Indian captain to score a century in men’s T20Is. He joined Rohit Sharma, who has three T20I centuries as captain, and Suryakumar Yadav, who has one.
Iyer’s unbeaten 102 was also his highest score in T20I cricket, surpassing his previous best of 80 not out against England in Bristol earlier in 2026. He brought up his 11th T20I half-century in 28 balls and registered only his second fifty since taking over the captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav.
The Ekana crowd gave Iyer a loud ovation as he completed his century and continued to dominate the chase.
Early setbacks fail to slow India
India lost both openers inside the powerplay but never allowed the early setbacks to derail the chase.
Abhishek Sharma contributed 21 before departing, while Sanju Samson was dismissed for 11. India raced to 62/2 after six overs, leaving Iyer and Ishan Kishan to rebuild the innings.
Rather than adopting a cautious approach, Iyer continued to attack the West Indies bowlers. He repeatedly found the boundary and quickly turned the chase into a one-sided contest.
Kishan provided valuable support with 37 off 27 balls. The pair added a match-winning 137 runs from 68 deliveries, completely taking the game away from the visitors.
During the chase, Kishan also completed 3,000 runs in international cricket.
India reached 102/2 at the halfway stage, requiring 70 runs from the remaining 60 balls. With Iyer accelerating rapidly, however, the equation soon became little more than a formality.
Kishan eventually departed after his useful contribution, but Iyer remained unbeaten on 102 from 43 deliveries to take India comfortably across the finishing line.
Iyer survives controversial catch attempt
West Indies briefly appeared to have an opportunity to break the decisive partnership when Iyer clipped a delivery from Shamar Springer towards square leg.
Matthew Forde charged in from deep cover and appeared to have completed a low catch. The on-field decision remained not out, prompting a review by TV umpire Rohan Pandit.
Replays showed that the ball had touched the ground between Forde’s fingers, confirming that the catch had not been completed.
The decision left the West Indies camp frustrated, with Shai Hope and Akeal Hosein seen sharing smiles while head coach Daren Sammy appeared visibly unhappy in the dugout.
Iyer went on to complete his century and finish the match unbeaten.
Dhir makes immediate impact on debut
Earlier, Naman Dhir marked his T20I debut with an impressive three-wicket haul as India bowled West Indies out for 171 in 19.1 overs.
Dhir finished with 3/31 from four overs, recording the third-best bowling figures by an Indian spinner on T20I debut.
West Indies captain Shai Hope gave the visitors an aggressive start, smashing 16 runs off Mayank Yadav in the second over. India responded strongly through Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel during the powerplay.
Kamil Pooran was the first wicket to fall after scoring 12, while Shimron Hetmyer was run out for five. Rovman Powell then departed for a duck, leaving West Indies struggling at 44/3 after six overs.
Hetmyer’s run-out also saw him move to the top of West Indies’ list for most run-outs in T20Is, with seven, moving ahead of Andre Fletcher’s six.
Hope then joined hands with Sherfane Rutherford to stabilise the innings. The pair added 38 runs without being separated to take West Indies to 82/3 at the drinks break, with Rutherford on 18 and Hope continuing to anchor the innings.
Axar, spinners tighten the grip
Axar Patel produced another disciplined spell, finishing with 2/26 from 3.1 overs.
His early spell included a maiden, taking his tally of maiden overs in T20Is to six. He now trails only Jasprit Bumrah, with 13, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 10.
Axar has also bowled four wicket-maidens in the first six overs of T20Is, putting him level with Bumrah and behind Bhuvneshwar, who has six.
Powell’s dismissal further highlighted his struggles against Axar. He has now been dismissed twice by the Indian all-rounder in T20 cricket, scoring only 17 runs from 13 deliveries against him.
Hope continued to carry the West Indies innings and completed his 13th T20I fifty from 36 balls. However, he fell immediately after reaching the landmark, caught by Axar off Dhir for 52.
His dismissal ended a 63-run partnership with Rutherford and triggered another collapse.
Kuldeep Yadav then struck in successive overs. He trapped Roston Chase leg before wicket for five before dismissing Matthew Forde for two.
Forde’s dismissal was completed by a spectacular catch from Kishan at deep midwicket. The wicketkeeper-batter ran to his left and held onto the ball despite losing his balance.
Rutherford fights alone
Rutherford remained the main source of resistance for West Indies and kept the visitors’ total moving with an aggressive half-century.
He smashed 56 from only 31 balls to register his seventh T20I fifty. His innings included powerful strokeplay and kept West Indies in contention despite the regular loss of wickets at the other end.
Romario Shepherd briefly threatened to accelerate the scoring rate, hitting a six before falling for seven when he sliced Dhir’s delivery to Tilak Varma at long-off.
Dhir then claimed his third wicket when Shamar Springer attempted another big shot and holed out to Axar.
Rutherford eventually fell to Mayank Yadav, who claimed his first wicket of the match. Axar then completed his second wicket as India wrapped up the West Indies innings for 171.
For India, Dhir returned figures of 3/31, Axar claimed 2/26 and Kuldeep finished with 2/33 from four overs. Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav took one wicket apiece.
India seize series advantage
The West Indies had hoped their total of 171 would provide a competitive target, but Iyer’s extraordinary innings ensured that India never faced serious pressure during the chase.
His unbeaten 102, combined with Kishan’s 37 and Dhir’s impressive debut, produced a comprehensive opening victory for the hosts.
India will now carry a 1-0 lead into the remainder of the five-match series, while West Indies will look to regroup after a contest in which their middle-order collapse and inability to contain Iyer proved decisive.
Brief scores:
West Indies: 171 all out in 19.1 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 56, Shai Hope 52; Naman Dhir 3/31, Axar Patel 2/26).
India: 172/2 in 14.4 overs (Shreyas Iyer 102*, Ishan Kishan 37; Roston Chase 1/37).
Result: India won by eight wickets and lead the five-match series 1-0.
