Indore, October 2026 : India produced a disciplined bowling performance under pressure to defeat the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20 International at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Despite an explosive late assault by Shamar Springer, the visitors finished at 209/7 while chasing a formidable target of 224.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, the West Indies were set a target of 224 as India posted 223 all out in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma led the batting charge with a blistering 69 off 30 balls, while Ishan Kishan contributed 37 during a 108-run second-wicket partnership. However, India's late loss of wickets prevented the hosts from reaching an even bigger total.
The West Indies responded aggressively, with Shimron Hetmyer scoring 43, Kamil Pooran making 42 and Sherfane Rutherford adding 32. But India's bowlers struck at crucial moments, particularly in the closing overs, to protect the total.
Arshdeep Singh was the standout performer with three wickets, while Naman Dhir claimed two. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel picked up one wicket each as India secured a significant victory in the series.
Arshdeep strikes early as India gain control
India made an immediate breakthrough when Arshdeep dismissed West Indies captain Shai Hope in the second over. Hope was bowled for five off five balls, giving the hosts an early advantage in the chase.
Hetmyer and Pooran then attempted to rebuild the innings through aggressive strokeplay. Hetmyer struck six fours and two sixes in his 26-ball 43, putting pressure on the Indian bowlers and keeping the required run rate within reach.
India, however, found the breakthrough through Naman Dhir, who bowled Hetmyer to end the dangerous partnership and bring the hosts back into the contest.
Pooran continued the counterattack, taking on Dhir with a series of powerful shots. He struck three sixes in the spinner's over, including one that travelled approximately 92 metres. But his aggression proved costly when he attempted another big hit off the final delivery of the over.
Arshdeep completed the catch at deep backward square leg to dismiss Pooran for 42 off 27 balls, an innings featuring three fours and three sixes. Dhir finished with two wickets for 39 runs from three overs.
Rutherford and Sampson keep West Indies in the hunt
The West Indies continued to fight through the middle overs, with Quentin Sampson and Rutherford adding valuable runs. Sampson scored 21 from 15 deliveries, including a four and a six, while Rutherford played a brisk innings of 32 from 20 balls, striking two fours and two sixes.
Reddy dismissed Sampson in the 16th over when the batter attempted to attack a delivery outside off stump. The ball went straight to Tilak Varma at long-off, who completed an important catch.
With wickets falling but the required rate climbing, the West Indies needed a substantial finish to keep their hopes alive.
Arshdeep's 18th over turns the contest
The decisive passage came in the 18th over, when Arshdeep delivered two crucial blows. After 17 overs, the West Indies needed 56 runs from the remaining 18 balls, with Rutherford and Keemo Paul at the crease.
Arshdeep first removed Paul, who had scored 10 off six deliveries. Tilak Varma took the catch at long-off, leaving the visitors further behind in the chase.
The left-arm pacer then produced an excellent yorker to bowl Rutherford, ending the batter's resistance and strengthening India's grip on the match.
Arshdeep finished with figures of 3/44 from four overs. His double strike in the 18th over sharply reduced the West Indies' chances of completing the chase and demonstrated the importance of executing plans under pressure.
Prince Yadav delivers a controlled 19th over
With the West Indies at 176/7 after 18 overs, they required 48 runs from the final 12 deliveries. Prince Yadav was entrusted with the 19th over and conceded only 11 runs.
Springer managed a six during the over, but Prince largely kept the batters from finding the boundary. A slower delivery to Roston Chase also prevented the batter from scoring, helping India maintain control.
The West Indies reached 187/7 after 19 overs, leaving them needing 37 runs from the final six balls.
Springer's late fireworks fall short
Axar Patel bowled the final over, with Springer attempting an improbable finish. The batter began with a six, failed to score from the second delivery and followed it with a boundary and another six.
After another dot ball, Springer struck a final six over long-off. The over yielded 22 runs, but the effort was insufficient to overturn the result.
Springer finished unbeaten on 35 from just 11 deliveries, producing three sixes and a four in a remarkable late assault. Nevertheless, the West Indies ended on 209/7, falling 14 runs short.
Axar conceded 33 runs in three overs and took one wicket, while Reddy returned figures of 1/19 from two overs.
Reddy praises India's bowling plans
Speaking after the match, Reddy praised the team's ability to execute its plans in a challenging situation. He said the bowlers remained focused on preventing the West Indies batters from finding regular boundaries.
At one stage, the visitors needed close to 14 runs per over. Reddy explained that the Indian strategy was to limit opportunities for big shots, adding that even an over consisting entirely of singles would have been a positive outcome for the bowling side.
He also credited the captain's clear instructions and said bowlers needed courage to stick to their plans under pressure.
Reflecting on India's batting, Reddy said the team had made a strong start and built useful partnerships, although a few unfortunate dismissals disrupted its momentum. He also acknowledged Prince Yadav's contribution with the bat in the closing stages.
India move ahead in the series
The victory gave India a 2-1 advantage in the five-match series and marked the first successful defence of a total during the series, according to the match report. The relatively limited impact of dew also helped the Indian bowlers execute their plans in the second innings.
India's success rested on Abhishek's explosive batting, Dhir's two wickets and Arshdeep's decisive strikes in the closing overs. Although the West Indies fought until the final delivery, India's bowlers held their nerve to secure a 14-run victory and put the hosts one win away from taking the series.
