Shreyas Iyer smashed his maiden T20I century as India chased down 172 with eight wickets and 32 balls to spare against West Indies in Lucknow, extending their winning streak to 10 matches.
Fresh from captaining India to Asian Games gold, Iyer delivered another statement performance in the shortest format, producing an unbeaten 102 from just 43 balls to guide India home in emphatic fashion.
India had slipped to 35/2 inside four overs after losing Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but Iyer took control alongside Ishan Kishan. The pair rebuilt the innings before Iyer shifted through the gears to turn the chase into a one-sided contest.
West Indies Recover After Early Collapse
West Indies made an aggressive start after Iyer elected to field, with Shai Hope continuing his excellent recent form.
Hope, who had struck an unbeaten 162 in the third ODI in New Chandigarh, raced to 21 from 12 balls, including five boundaries. However, Arshdeep Singh dismissed debutant Kamil Pooran before Axar Patel produced a decisive Powerplay over.
Axar struck twice in the final over of the Powerplay, with Sanju Samson running out Shimron Hetmyer before Rovman Powell was bowled two balls later. West Indies were reduced to 44/3.
Hope and Sherfane Rutherford then rebuilt the innings, adding 63 for the fourth wicket. Hope reached a 36-ball half-century before falling for 52, while Rutherford continued to attack through the middle overs.
Rutherford Leads Late West Indies Fightback
West Indies slipped further after Hope’s dismissal, with Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd and Matthew Forde all departing as India tightened their grip.
Naman Dhir impressed on debut, claiming three wickets, while Ishan Kishan produced a spectacular sliding catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Forde.
At 135/8 with four overs remaining, West Indies needed a late surge. Rutherford and Akeal Hosein provided exactly that, putting together 36 from 18 balls.
Rutherford eventually fell for 56 from 34 balls, having struck six fours and three sixes. Axar then claimed the final wicket with the first ball of the last over as West Indies were bowled out for 171.
Hosein’s appearance was also significant, coming in his 100th T20I, making him only the fourth West Indies player to reach the milestone.
Iyer Turns the Chase Into a Masterclass
India’s reply began quickly, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson scoring 15 from the opening over. West Indies responded through spin, however, as Roston Chase removed Abhishek for 21 before Akeal Hosein dismissed Samson.
At 35/2 after 3.3 overs, India needed stability.
Iyer and Kishan provided it.
The pair maintained a scoring rate close to 10 an over, regularly finding boundaries and gradually taking the game away from West Indies.
Iyer was particularly destructive against Romario Shepherd, plundering 19 runs from the ninth over, including 16 in boundaries. He reached his half-century from 28 balls — his 11th T20I fifty and first in 10 innings.
24-Run Over Takes Iyer to 95
With India firmly in control, Iyer accelerated further.
The 14th over produced another stunning assault as he smashed three sixes and a four, taking 24 runs and moving to 95.
Two balls into the following over, Iyer completed the milestone.
He launched Roston Chase over long-on for his first T20I century, reaching three figures from just 42 balls.
The innings was not only his maiden T20I hundred but also the fourth-highest score by an Indian captain in men’s T20Is.
Iyer added a single from the next delivery, taking India to 172/2 and sealing an eight-wicket victory.
The result extended India’s T20I winning streak to 10 matches, while Iyer’s unbeaten century announced his return to the format in spectacular fashion.
The second T20I will be played in Ranchi on October 9.
