Shreyas Iyer 102: India made a flying start to the five-match T20I series against West Indies as captain Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls to guide India to an eight-wicket victory in the first T20I at Lucknow.
West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs. India chased down the target in just 14.4 overs, finishing on 172/2 with 32 balls remaining.
The victory gives India a 1–0 lead in the five-match series. The second T20I will be played in Ranchi on October 9. ICC
Shreyas Iyer Scores Maiden T20I Century
Shreyas Iyer produced the biggest individual performance of the match.
Coming in after India lost early wickets, Iyer took control of the chase and finished with 102 not out from 43 deliveries.
His innings included 10 fours and six sixes, and he completed his maiden T20I century from 42 balls.
Iyer reached his fifty from 28 balls before accelerating dramatically during the final stages of the chase.
He smashed 24 runs in the 14th over and then completed his century with a six off Roston Chase. India reached 172/2 in the following over to complete the victory.
India vs West Indies 1st T20I Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 171 all out | 19.1 |
| India | 172/2 | 14.4 |
Result: India won by 8 wickets.
West Indies Innings: 171 All Out
West Indies made a competitive start but struggled against India's spin attack during the middle and later stages of the innings.
Shai Hope top-scored with 52 from 37 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford contributed 56.
However, wickets continued to fall and West Indies were eventually bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs.
West Indies Top Batters
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Shai Hope | 52 |
| Sherfane Rutherford | 56 |
| Akeal Hosein | 15 |
| Nicholas Pooran | 12 |
India Bowling Performance
India's bowlers kept West Indies under pressure throughout the innings.
Naman Dhir was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 31 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel also picked up two wickets each.
| Bowler | Figures |
|---|---|
| Naman Dhir | 3/31 |
| Axar Patel | 2/26 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 2/33 |
India's Chase: Iyer and Ishan Kishan Take Control
India's chase did not begin perfectly.
Abhishek Sharma fell for 21 from 10 balls before Sanju Samson was dismissed for 11.
India were 35/2 when Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan joined forces.
The pair completely changed the momentum of the innings.
Iyer attacked the bowlers from one end while Kishan provided valuable support. They produced an unbeaten 137-run partnership to take India comfortably across the finish line.
India Top Batters
| Batter | Runs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Shreyas Iyer | 102 | Not out |
| Ishan Kishan | 37 | Not out |
| Abhishek Sharma | 21 | Out |
| Sanju Samson | 11 | Out |
Shreyas Iyer's 102: Key Numbers
- Runs: 102*
- Balls: 43
- Fours: 10
- Sixes: 6
- Strike rate: More than 230
- T20I centuries: First
- India result: Won by 8 wickets
Iyer's century came immediately after his leadership role in India's gold-medal campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, making the performance another major moment in his T20I career.
India vs West Indies: Match Turning Points
West Indies Lose Early Wickets
India's bowlers restricted West Indies during the powerplay and prevented the visitors from building a huge total.
Hope and Rutherford Rebuild
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford helped West Indies recover and pushed the score towards a competitive 170-plus total.
Naman Dhir's Three Wickets
Naman Dhir played an important role in preventing West Indies from finishing strongly, returning figures of 3/31.
Iyer Changes the Game
India were 35/2 when Iyer took control. His acceleration turned a potentially challenging chase into a one-sided finish.
137-Run Unbeaten Partnership
Iyer and Ishan Kishan's unbeaten partnership removed any doubt about the result.
India vs West Indies T20I Series: Full Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | October 6 | Lucknow |
| 2nd T20I | October 9 | Ranchi |
| 3rd T20I | October 11 | Indore |
| 4th T20I | October 14 | Hyderabad |
| 5th T20I | October 17 | Bengaluru |
The schedule has been confirmed by the BCCI, with all five T20Is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST.
When Is India vs West Indies 2nd T20I?
The second T20I between India and West Indies will be played on October 9, 2026 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
India enter the match with a 1–0 lead after the eight-wicket victory in Lucknow.
India vs West Indies 2nd T20I: What to Expect
The second match could provide another opportunity for India's younger players to make an impact.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and the bowling unit will remain players to watch as India continue their preparation for future international tournaments.
However, the final playing XI should only be confirmed after the toss and official team announcement.
Why Shreyas Iyer's Century Is Important
The innings was significant not only because of the score but also because of the situation in which it came.
India had lost two wickets for just 35 runs. Instead of allowing the required run rate to create pressure, Iyer attacked the bowling and maintained control throughout the chase.
His ability to accelerate from a controlled fifty to a century in the final stages was the defining feature of the match.
India's T20I Winning Run
The victory extended India's T20I winning streak to 10 matches, according to the ICC.
The result also continued the team's strong run after winning the men's T20 cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
Bottom Line
India began the West Indies T20I series in emphatic fashion, chasing 172 with eight wickets and 32 balls remaining.
The headline belonged to Shreyas Iyer, whose unbeaten 102 off 43 balls delivered his first T20I century and helped India take a 1–0 series lead.
With four matches still to play, the focus now shifts to Ranchi for the second T20I on October 9.
