India-West Indies share T20I series honours

Scorecard

West Indies' wait of a first bilateral series win in India since 2002 continues, as the final T20I between India and the tourists was called off after 46 balls of the India innings. 

Led by their inspirational skipper, Shai Hope, West Indies had shown great application and power-hitting in the series, holding the ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions India for an eventual 2-2 scoreline. 

Hope was the highest run-getter across both sides, scoring 261 runs at an average of 130.5 in four innings, while Keemo Paul was the pick of the bowlers with eight scalps from three games. Hope was named the Player of the Series for his efforts.

After a substantial rain-delay, toss finally took place at 9 PM local time, with Shai Hope winning the toss and electing to field first in the nine-over-a side contest.

West Indies walked in unchanged, while India brought back Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in his first international outing in almost four years, and Shivam Dube.

Keemo Paul had the near perfect start as he beat Sanju Samson off the very first ball, but the batter got off the mark with a single off the next delivery. A no-ball was followed by five wides down the leg-side, as India's scoring rate improved.

Abhishek Sharma connected a six off the fourth ball to put further pressure on Shai Hope's team, but fell off the very next ball while trying to target the cow corner and fell in the inner circle to a catch by Shamar Joseph. 

Ishan Kishan came in next, and ensured that India kept going hammer and tongs, scoring 24 runs off the second over. The hosts were within the reaching distance of 50 by the middle of the third over, when Shamar Joseph accounted for Kishan (30 off 10).

Samson, who had barely faced strike after the first over, picked pace thereafter, hitting a flurry of boundaries. However, Shamar Springer cleaned up the batter at the start of the fifth over, to leave India at 66/3 on a good batting wicket. 

With disciplined bowling, West Indies were able to put the brakes on India's run scoring over the next few balls, putting pressure on Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma. 

As the drizzle returned, India skipper Shreyas tried to lift the scoring rate against Gudakesh Motie in the sixth over, and was able to manage a couple of boundaries while also surviving by a close margin as Sherfane Rutherford spilled his catch.

He wasn't so lucky at the start of the next over when Keemo Paul had him caught. 

Naman Dhir walked in and helped India pick up once more. Hitting three sixes in his six balls, Dhir helped India to 118/5 at the 7.4 over mark, before rain stopped play.

Keemo (2/34) and Springer (2/17) were the pick of the West Indies bowlers.

India will now go on to New Zealand for an all-format tour that begins on 22 October, while West Indies will visit Bangladesh for a two-game ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 series.

Photo courtesy: BCCI