Ball-by-Ball Commentary
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:50 pm
The trophy is handed over to Shreyas Iyer and Shai Hope. That brings an end to West Indies' tour of India. They gave the hosts a real run for their money across both formats. While India clinched the ODI series 2-1, West Indies fought back to draw the T20I series 2-2. There were plenty of positives for the visitors, headlined by skipper Shai Hope's four centuries across the two formats. There were valuable contributions from others as well, and the challenge now will be to build on those performances going forward. India will next travel to New Zealand, where they begin their T20I series on Thursday (October 22). Do join us for that series. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe!
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:46 pm
Shreyas 2/2: [On Naman Dhir's opportunity and the strength of India's cricketing system] [On his conversations with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi about waiting for an opportunity] So I just keep telling him, you'll get your opportunity. You see there are two batters who have probably won the... not probably, they have won the World Cup for you, and they've been consistent with their run-scoring as well. So, you know, if you be consistent with your processes and your mindset is a bit light, not think too much about getting an opportunity right now. I know what must be going on in his mind, especially after a phenomenal IPL season. But you have to wait sometimes, and we've got two fantastic openers who have been consistent throughout. And yeah, that's the interaction I basically had with him, right from Afghanistan series. [On handling frequent travel and maintaining routines ahead of the New Zealand series] Yes, it's just like another day. We've been used to it, even constantly travelling in India. It's definitely not easy to recover and see to it that your routines are intact. But honestly speaking, we've been doing that pretty well, and we are adjusting to the conditions pretty fast. So as long as we are maintaining this consistently, it's good for the team.
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:46 pm
Shreyas Iyer | India captain 1/2: [On whether India could have won the series outright and his assessment of the 2-2 result] Well, it could have definitely been different, considering if we had bowled well in the second and the fourth game. Obviously, batting has been sensational throughout. It's just about that execution, which we were falling short, especially our bowlers were taking the ball. And also, you know, credit where it's due. They batted phenomenally well, and also Shai Hope, brilliant performance by him, the way he was cruising through in the series. It was difficult at times, but kudos to him. [On the positives from the series, particularly India's ability to bounce back after defeats] I think the ability to bounce back, even after a loss. We had this mindset that we want to get and play aggressive cricket and see to it that we are at top of our game. And we replicated in some instances, but we weren't able to repeat it and be consistent throughout. But it's a great learning and a lot of positives as well. Even today, the way we, you know, went about our batting, it was outstanding, and I hope that we keep repeating well, and it is going to be a challenging series in New Zealand now.
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:29 pm
Hope 2/2: [On not bowling Roston Chase in the final match] Yeah, just one of those things again. If Tilak was on strike for that over, Motie bowled the second one, I would probably have given Roston. But yeah, just how it goes sometimes. But I just feel the way how we played cricket in general, everyone was chipping in at certain stages. Sherfane continuing to do what he does in T20 format. Like I said, very pleasing from a bowling side of things to see the guys executing. [On his own batting performances and maintaining self-belief] You still have to have that self-belief. Honestly, whenever I cross the line, even if I haven't got any runs in the last two, three, four, five innings, I still believe that I can get the job done. I think that's what kind of keeps me going, keeps me grounded as well, knowing that even if I do score a 100 or I get a big score in the next game, still have to start from scratch. So my process never changes. I try to stay as neutral as I possibly can and just back, like I said, back my ability to get the job done. Because I prepare, I think well enough. So just allow that to happen and hopefully when the execution comes, it goes in my favor.
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:29 pm
Shai Hope | West Indies captain and Player of the Series 1/2: [On how close West Indies came to winning the series and the significance of their progress] We're very close. Something that we haven't done in so many years. I think it's 20-plus years or so. Not sure the exact number. But to get this far in the series, give ourselves a good chance of winning. It obviously shows what we are doing as a unit. It's certainly progressing. Success doesn't necessarily have to be series wins, but just seeing the way how the guys have been progressing as a team is very commendable. [On the positives from the T20I series, particularly the bowling performances] Like I said, quite a few, especially from the bowling front. We talk about guys executing their skills in pressure situations. Saw Shamar come in and Shamar Springer, that is coming in and playing that crucial role for us in the back end, getting some good wickets, bowling those death overs. Keemo Paul, similarly, and then you still had the likes of Roston, who has been consistent for us with the ball for so many years.
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:16 pm
Stats by Roshan Gede
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:16 pm
The last time West Indies defeated India in a bilateral series in India (any format) was way back in 2002: 4-3 in a seven-match ODI series that had gone into the decider. The wait continues.
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:16 pm
Most sixes in a bilateral T20I series between FM sides (balls/six) 120 - England in West Indies, 2023/24 (9.63) 117 - Australia in West Indies, 2025 (9.61) 116 - New Zealand in India, 2026 (9.52) 105 - West Indies in India, 2026 (9.19) 96 - West Indies in India, 2019 (14.92) 96 - England in West Indies, 2021/22 (12.34)
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:16 pm
Highest run-rates in a bilateral T20I series between FM sides 10.98 - West Indies in India, 2026 10.57 - New Zealand in India, 2026 9.63 - Australia in West Indies, 2025 9.36 - India in England, 2026 9.21 - England in West Indies, 2023/24
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:16 pm
22:16 Local Time, 16:46 GMT: The inevitable has happened. The players are shaking hands. The game has been called off. It was always going to be touch and go, given the weather forecast, though there were positive signs in the morning when the probability of rain dropped from 70 to 30 percent. However, persistent drizzle prevented the ground staff from getting the conditions ready. The rain finally relented at 20:30 local time, allowing the toss to take place and a start time to be set. The crowd, who had waited patiently, were treated to a brief spell of action from Ishan Kishan and Naman Dhir, but in the end, the rain had the final say. The series ends 2-2.
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:10 pm
Take a look at India's brief innings, though. Ishan Kishan set the powerplay ablaze with a blistering 30 off just 10 balls. Following his departure, the middle order struggled to find rhythm, but Naman Dhir turned the tide with a few mighty blows in his brief stay at the crease before rain brought the action to a halt. West Indies will have to chase 84 in 5 overs. Going by the live visuals, it doesn't look like we’re in for any encouraging updates..
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:04 pm
22:04 Local Time, 16:34 GMT: The drizzle has gotten heavier and the umpires have called on for the covers. With every passing moment, the intensity of rain is increasing. That might be all about India's innings I reckon. We'll wait for the official confirmation though. This was shaping up to be a real nail-biter, but the rain has returned once again, forcing the groundstaff to bring the covers back on. The square is now covered, and the run-up areas are covered as well. 10.21 local time is the cut-off for a 5-over run chase! India's innings has ended..
- 7.4wicketIND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:02 pm
Shamar Springer to Tilak Varma, out Bowled!! A yorker length delivery outside off, Tilak Varma aims to drive, and gets an inside edge that has shattered into the stumps. India lose their fifth wicket in the form of Tilak. Just like Iyer, even he couldn't get going in the middle overs. Shamar Springer with his second wicket of this clash. Tilak Varma b Shamar Springer 7(6)
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:02 pm
Shamar Springer to Tilak Varma, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!
- 7.3IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:02 pm
Shamar Springer to Tilak Varma, 2 runs, that's a fine stop by Keemo Paul at deep mid-wicket. Sprints across to his right and puts in a dive to flick the ball away. It was a low full toss that was flicked away by Tilak Varma
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:01 pm
16* off 3 - Naman Dhir's 16 is the joint-most scored by an India batter off the first three balls of his innings. Dinesh Karthik too, had gone 6, 4, 6 off Rubel Hossain in the Nidahas Trophy 2018 final at RPS Colombo
- 7.3IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:01 pm
Shamar Springer to Tilak Varma, wide, attempted slower delivery outside off, but it's a wide ball
- 7.2IND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:00 pm
Shamar Springer to Naman Dhir, 1 run, full and quick on off, Naman Dhir chips it towards mid-off on the bounce
- 7.1sixIND· 17 Oct 2026, 10:00 pm
Shamar Springer to Naman Dhir, SIX, Naman Dhir is batting like a dream at the moment. Has to be one of his finest knock in international cricket so far. This was pitched up by the bowler around off and Naman Dhir thumped it over long-off for another sublimely timed maximum
- —IND· 17 Oct 2026, 09:59 pm
Shamar Springer [1.0-0-7-1] is back into the attack