India Leads T20 Series 2-1 After Defeating West Indies by 14 Runs

India Moves Ahead in T20 Series After Narrow Win Over West Indies

At Indore, India secured a 14-run victory against the West Indies in the third T20 international on Sunday, taking a 2-1 advantage in the five-match series. Key bowlers Arshdeep Singh and spinner Naman Dhir combined to take five wickets, restricting West Indies to 209 for 7 in their chase.

• Arshdeep Singh: 3 wickets for 44 runs
• Naman Dhir: 2 wickets for 39 runs

Earlier, Abhishek Sharma powered India’s innings with 69 runs off just 30 balls, including five sixes, helping set a target of 223 in 20 overs after West Indies chose to field first.

The West Indies had won the second T20 in Ranchi by six wickets, achieving their highest successful T20 run chase. India claimed the series opener by eight wickets in Lucknow.

Match Progression Highlights

India began solidly despite losing Sanju Samson early for 3 runs. Sharma’s aggressive batting helped India reach 87 for 1 in the powerplay, hitting 50 runs off 18 balls with five sixes. He partnered with Ishan Kishan, who contributed 37 off 18 balls, including one six and six fours. Their partnership added 108 runs before Kishan was stumped off Roston Chase, who finished with figures of 2 for 38.

Chase also dismissed Indian captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for 1 in the ninth over, triggering a mini-collapse that saw India lose four wickets for 20 runs, sliding to 135 for 5.

Given the West Indies’ strong batting form during the tour, India’s total seemed vulnerable. Yet the visitors started their innings slowly, losing skipper Shai Hope for 5 runs, bowled by Arshdeep Singh in the second over. West Indies managed only 54 for 1 in the powerplay.

Kamil Pooran (42) and Shimron Hetmyer (43) built a 60-run stand off 31 balls, hitting five sixes between them. This forced India to bring on Dhir’s offspin, which proved effective as he dismissed Hetmyer and Pooran. Indian spinners, including Axar Patel, accounted for three wickets during the middle overs, with Patel removing Rovman Powell for 5.

Sherfane Rutherford scored 32 off 20 balls with two sixes and shared a 46-run partnership off 27 balls with Quentin Sampson, who made 21. Their dismissals left West Indies struggling to keep up with the required rate.

Shamar Springer’s late blitz of 35 not out off 11 balls, featuring three sixes in the final over against Axar Patel, cut the deficit but was not enough to avoid defeat.

Upcoming Match

The fourth T20 match will be played in Hyderabad on Wednesday.