Hyderabad, Oct 2026 : Skipper Shai Hope produced a spectacular unbeaten century before Keemo Paul claimed a match-winning five-wicket haul as West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in the fourth T20 International at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday. The victory levelled the five-match series 2-2 and set up a decisive fifth match in Bengaluru.
After being asked to bat first, West Indies posted a formidable 247/3 in 20 overs, powered by Hope’s unbeaten 102 off just 50 deliveries and Sherfane Rutherford’s 49 not out from 26 balls. India responded with an aggressive start but eventually finished at 223/9 in 19.3 overs, falling short despite Sanju Samson’s rapid half-century.
Paul led the visitors’ bowling attack with five wickets, while Gudakesh Motie provided crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs to prevent India from sustaining their chase.
The result kept West Indies’ hopes of winning the series alive and marked a significant achievement for the visitors, who had not defeated India in a T20I on Indian soil since 2019 before the current tour.
Hope continued his outstanding form, recording his second century of the series and third in T20 Internationals. His innings combined controlled stroke play with powerful hitting in the closing overs, leaving India with a demanding target.
West Indies began aggressively, racing to 79/1 during the powerplay, their highest powerplay score against India in T20Is. Jewel Andrew contributed a brisk 21 off 16 balls, while Hope anchored the innings and ensured the scoring rate remained high.
The visitors reached 118/2 at the halfway stage, laying the foundation for a substantial total. Shimron Hetmyer then injected further momentum with a blistering 33 off just 12 deliveries, striking at a rate of 275.
West Indies reached 100 in only 7.4 overs, equalling their fastest team hundred against India in T20Is, a record previously achieved in Lauderhill in 2016.
Hope brought up his half-century from 28 balls before accelerating further as the innings progressed. Rutherford provided valuable support, and the pair added an unbeaten 91 runs for the fourth wicket. It was West Indies’ second-highest partnership for that wicket in T20Is, following their 120-run stand in the previous match in Ranchi.
Hope finished in spectacular fashion, hitting sixes off the final two deliveries to reach 102 not out and take West Indies to 247/3. The total was their second-highest against India in T20Is, behind the 252/4 they had recorded in Ranchi earlier in the series.
India began the chase with considerable intent, and Samson quickly put the visitors under pressure. The wicketkeeper-batter reached his half-century in just 20 balls, giving the hosts hope of chasing down the imposing target.
However, Paul changed the course of the contest with a decisive spell. He dismissed Samson with his first delivery, catching the dangerous batter at deep backward square-leg, and removed Ishan Kishan in the same over. The double breakthrough disrupted India’s momentum and forced the middle order to rebuild under mounting pressure.
Motie further dented India’s chase by dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Naman Dhir on successive deliveries. Roston Chase also helped restrict the scoring during the middle overs, while Shamar Springer delivered a crucial 18th over that conceded only five runs.
With wickets falling regularly and the required run rate climbing, India struggled to recover. Paul returned in the 19th over to claim three more wickets, completing his five-wicket haul and effectively ending the hosts’ hopes of victory.
The match concluded on a disappointing note for India when Arshdeep Singh retired hurt after clutching his left shoulder, leaving Mayank Yadav without a batting partner as the innings ended at 223/9.
Hope’s commanding century and Paul’s decisive bowling performance ensured West Indies bounced back from their defeat in Indore. With the series now tied, both teams will head to Bengaluru for the fifth and final T20I, where the series winner will be decided.
Brief scores:
West Indies: 247/3 in 20 overs — Shai Hope 102 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 49 not out; Prince Yadav 1/36.
India: 223/9 in 19.3 overs — Sanju Samson 56, Tilak Varma 43; Keemo Paul 5/41, Gudakesh Motie 2/13.
West Indies won by 24 runs to level the series 2-2.
