New Delhi, Oct 6: Shreyas Iyer turned a challenging run-chase into a masterclass of batting dominance. After West Indies threatened to make India work hard for their target of 172 on a surface offering ample spin, Iyer unleashed a spectacular, unbeaten maiden T20I century. His explosive performance guided India to a commanding eight-wicket victory in just 14.4 overs, extending India’s historic T20I winning streak to ten consecutive matches.
After West Indies recovered from an early stumble to post a competitive 171, India’s chase suffered a brief setback, slipping to 36 for 2. However, what followed was a breathtaking display of batting from Iyer, who transformed the chase into a one-sided affair. Smashing a maiden T20I century, he propelled India to victory with a massive 32 balls to spare in Lucknow.
The landmark victory not only cemented India’s winning streak in T20Is to ten matches but also underscored the exceptional depth of their bowling unit, with three spinners sharing eight wickets between them. West Indies began their innings brightly, with Shai Hope carrying his stellar ODI series form into the T20Is. He struck four boundaries off Mayank Yadav in the second over, guiding the visitors to a confident 21 without loss.
India quickly wrestled back control. Arshdeep Singh’s precise yorkers applied pressure before Kamil Pooran was bowled. Axar Patel then delivered the defining over of the powerplay, claiming a double-wicket maiden. Shimron Hetmyer was run out after his bat bounced before the crease, and Rovman Powell was beaten by a straight delivery, leaving West Indies in trouble at 44 for 3.
Hope and Sherfane Rutherford attempted to rebuild the innings, injecting momentum during the middle overs. Rutherford smashed two sixes off Kuldeep Yadav, and the West Indies took 18 runs from Axar’s 11th over. With India’s fifth-bowling option under pressure, the visitors appeared poised for a strong finish.
However, T20I debutant Naman Dhir stepped up to the challenge. After being hit for a six by Hope, Dhir immediately adjusted his pace and had the batter caught at deep midwicket. He then dismissed Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer with clever changes of pace and wide lines. Dhir’s impressive three-wicket haul for 31 runs ensured West Indies finished at a manageable 171, rather than a more daunting total closer to 190.
India’s chase initially looked vulnerable, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson falling early as Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein extracted sufficient grip from the surface to trouble the batters. But Ishan Kishan and Iyer quickly restored India’s momentum, steering the team to 62 for 2 by the end of the powerplay, leaving them needing 110 runs from 14 overs.
Iyer then transformed the chase entirely. From 45 off 25 balls, he exploded in spectacular fashion, smashing six sixes in his next 18 deliveries. He plundered 24 runs from Matthew Forde’s 14th over and raced to his maiden T20I hundred. With Kishan rotating the strike at the other end, Iyer finished the job in spectacular fashion, leading India to an emphatic 175 for 2 in just 14.4 overs, sealing their 10th consecutive T20I victory.
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