India secured an emphatic eight‑wicket win over West Indies in the opening Twenty‑20 International in Lucknow, taking a 1‑0 lead in the series. The victory was powered by skipper Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten century and an impressive debut bowling performance from all‑rounder Naman Dhir.
After winning the toss, India chose to bowl and restricted the West Indies to 171 runs. Dhir finished with figures of 3 for 31 while Kuldeep Yadav took 2 for 33. The visitors’ innings began aggressively, with captain Shai Hope attacking the pace attack early on. Arshdeep Singh delivered the first breakthrough by dismissing Kamil Pooran, and a mix‑up led to Shimron Hetmyer’s run‑out. Axar Patel later removed Rovman Powell, sending West Indies into a precarious position.
Hope and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilt the innings, with Rutherford scoring a quick 56 from 34 balls and Hope contributing 52 off 37 deliveries before falling to Dhir. Kuldeep also played a key role in the middle overs, dismissing Roston Chase and stifling West Indies’ momentum. Dhir’s debut was marked by wickets of Hope, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer, while Ishan Kishan’s sharp catch dismissed Rutherford.
India’s chase began poorly, with both openers out within the first four overs – Abhishek Sharma for 21 and Sanju Samson for 11 – leaving the hosts 35 for 2. From that point, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan forged an unbeaten partnership of 137 runs for the third wicket. Iyer’s masterclass saw him reach 102 not out in just 42 balls, punctuated by a towering six, while Kishan remained unbeaten on 37. The pair steered India to a comfortable 172 for 2 in 14.4 overs, more than five overs to spare.
The comprehensive victory showcased India’s depth in batting, strength in bowling and excellence in fielding. Dhir’s debut spell and Iyer’s career‑best innings provide encouraging signs as the hosts head into the remainder of the series.
