India vs West Indies WI in IND, 5 T20Is, 2026

SIX! That's it! Shai Hope has done the impossible. One of the greatest T20I run chases, and Shai Hope also brings up a sensational HUNDRED in the process. Axar Patel bowls it flat and pushes it wide outside off. Hope reaches out and thwacks the ball over extra cover, and it sails over the ropes for a biggie. Hope and Shepherd celebrate in style as West Indies win by 6 wickets and 9 balls to spare.

Length ball, sliding back in from outside off. Shai Hope taps it to covers. He knows there are plenty of balls left and wants to pick the right one to hit.

SIX! That's been slammed into the crowd. Can Shai Hope now finish things off and get to a ton as well? Tossed up on a length, and around off. Hope lunges and drags the slog sweep high and long in front of deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 4 needed for the win now.

West Indies are almost home. Axar Patel has been tossed the ball.

FOUR! That's gone to the fence as well, and West Indies are now just a couple of hits away. Singh falters with his line again, bowling it way too short and way too wide outside off. Shepherd has to reach for it but he gets enough blade on it to get it over backward point for a boundary. 10 more needed off 12 balls.

FOUR! Easy pickings again for Romario Shepherd. A slower bumper, angled down leg, and with no fine leg in place, all Shepherd has to do is help it 'round the corner, and he picks up four more runs.

SIX! That's been the difference - the six-hitting. A juicy full toss on middle and leg, Romario Shepherd whacks it away over deep mid-wicket and gets the boundary required in the over. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.

Good work in the deep to keep it down to a single. Another low full toss, straighter at the stumps. Hope drills it just to the right of the stumps at the other end and Tilak Varma cuts it off quickly to his left from long on, keeping it down to one run.

Singh comes over the wicket to Shepherd. This is speared in at the toes, and Shepherd just clips it to deep square leg for one more.

Arshdeep goes searching for the yorker, angling it into the stumps from around the wicket. It turns out to be a low full toss, but Hope pushes it down to long on for just a single.

Arshdeep Singh comes back for his final over.

FOUR! Too much width on offer, and West Indies now require just 27 runs off 18 balls. Bowled from the front of the hand, turns out to be a short and wide one, well outside off. Shepherd goes after it and slaps it down through backward point for a boundary.

Swing and a miss! Brave from KD to toss it up, and he pushes this one wider of the off stump. Shepherd reaches for it, trying to go over extra cover but is beaten in the flight.

WIDE! Good work from the keeper. The faster ball, darted down leg. Sanju Samson dives to his left and stops a certain boundary. 20 off this over already.

SIX! This is just raw power from the Windies batters, and everything is travelling over the ropes. Bowled flatter again, around leg and turning in. Shepherd employs the slog sweep, snatching at it but managing to clear the fielder at deep mid-wicket.

Flatter and on the pads, swept away powerfully to the left of Abhishek Sharma at deep square leg, but for just a single.

Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson walk up to Kuldeep Yadav for a quick word.

SIX! Shai Hope is enjoying more than a purple patch on this tour. Tossed up, full and around off, looking to turn it across the right-hander. Hope picks the length well, leans ahead and smashes it over long off for yet another biggie, the third one on the trot for the Windies. 39 needed now off 22 balls.

SIX! Powered away, and up comes the 200 for West Indies. Quicker one around off, a tad short and skidding through. Hope rocks back and forces the lofted shot off the back foot, straight back over the bowler's head for a biggie.

SIX! Just over! Romario Shepherd and West Indies needed that. On the fuller side around off, Shepherd steps forward for the big hit and bludgeons it over a leaping Tilak Varma at long on for a six.

That's well fielded. Nagging length on middle, angled in. Shepherd gets forward and pushes it down towards mid on. Arshdeep Singh from short mid-wicket dives to his left and cuts it off.

Pushed through quicker at the stumps, angling in. Hope gets rushed and gets an inside edge to short fine leg for just a single.

FOUR! A tad short and wide outside off, Shai Hope reaches out and smacks it away through the point region for a boundary.

Full and fast, darted in at the stumps. Shai Hope looks to slog it away to the leg side but gets an inside edge and lets out a big grunt in disgrace.

Full and angled into the off pole. This is swung away down to long on for a single.

Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav both have just an over up their sleeves. Will Iyer give either of them an over here or will he hold them back for the death? He does hold them back, and Axar Patel is back on.

Fired in full at 114.6 kph, on middle. Shepherd taps it wide of extra cover for a single.

A run saved! It is the googly by Kuldeep, on the shorter side, on off. Hope punches it away off the back foot wide of deep cover. Arshdeep Singh sprints to his left and dives to push the ball away from the fence. He is close to the boundary cushions but the third umpire check confirms that Singh's effort is clean.

FOUR! In the gap. A bit of a drag down by Kuldeep, on middle. Hope uses the depth of the crease and gets on top oif the bounce, pulling it wide of deep backward square leg to his left for a boundary.

Drops it fractionally short, on middle. Shepherd punches it to long on for a single.

Pushed through, on a nagging length. Romario stabs it down towards mid-wicket.

Is that the wicket that turns the game on its head? Only time will tell. Romario Shepherd walks out to bat next.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Kuldeep Yadav strikes gold on his return to the attack. Sherfane Rutherford flings his bat up in the air as he trudges off. Bowled with a flat trajectory, short and near the tramline on off. Rutherford does not move his feet at all and just reaches out with his hands, trying to run it down past short third. The ball catches the outside edge and there is a healthy deflection, which is snaffled by Sanju Samson around his left knee. End of the entertainment by Sherfane Rutherford but he has really set up the chase nicely for the Windies. West Indies are 178/4, needing 72 runs in 35 balls.

This is turning into a T20I classic. 72 needed off 36 balls, and both teams are still in it. Kuldeep Yadav (2-0-20-0) is now back into the attack.

Another yorker attempted but it comes out as a low full toss, tailing back in on middle. Sherfane works it towards long on for a single.

FOUR! Smart batting. Arshdeep sticks to the yorker ploy, on off. Rutherford predicts the length and steps out to take the ball on the full. He frees his arms and carves it behind point to the right of the man at deep point.

A crowd catch! Arshdeep nails the yorker, on middle and leg. Rutherford hurriedly gets his bat down and squeezes it out back to the bowler. Arshdeep takes the catch by sticking out the left hand. No real interest from the bowler but Shreyas Iyer makes a polite enquiry to the umpire. The third umpire is called into action. The replays confirm that it was a bump ball as the ball went into the turf off the toe end of the blade before going towards the bowler.

Keeps it full, outside off. Hope jams it out wide of cover for one.

Low full toss, on off. Rutherford smears it away to long on for a single.

Singh serves a low full toss, on off. Shai drives it to long on for a run.

Arshdeep Singh is brought back into the attack. This could be a make-or-break over for India.

SIX! That has gone back a long way. Right in the wheelhouse, off-break, on a length, on off. Rutherford gets the width to open up his arms and he bashes it way over long off. 7 runs off the first 4 balls but the over ends up going for 18 runs. 80 needed off 42 balls.

FOUR! A teaser for Abhishek Sharma. Skidding through, shorter and on off. Rutherford is tucked up for room as he flashes at the ball. Ends up slicing it off the outer half towards backward point. Sharma leaps and sticks out the right hand over his head but can only get fingertips to it as the ball goes behind into the fence.

Wide! Spinning away, flirting with the tramline, on a good length. Rutherford lets it go. Not too different than the previous ball but this time, it has been given as a wide.

Sherfane Rutherford is not happy with wide not being given and lets out a cry in frustration. Around the tramline. Rutherford lets it go thinking it is a wide but the umpire is unmoved.

Another halt in play, and it's a lucky break for India as they get to slow things down a bit. Actually, one of the zing bails doesn't seem to be lighting up, and the fourth umpire is out with a replacement.

Flatter and on a nagging length, on off. Hope wrists it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Just over. Near the tramline, full in length. Hope hangs low and frees his arms to launch it down the ground. One hand comes off the bat handle and Tilak Varma at long off is in business for a moment. He leaps and sticks out the left hand but the ball sails over his head.

Ver full, outside off. Hope jams it out to point.

West Indies are now actually ahead of the asking rate. It is sill neck-and-neck and a wicket or two could change the whole equation. Naman Dhir to continue...

Full and outside off. Rutherford reaches out and slices it wide of deep point for a couple of runs. 23 runs off the over. Axar made to look listless by the Windies, 39 runs off his 2 overs so far.

SIX! It is going from bad to worse for Axar Patel. Axar slips in a low full toss, down leg. Rutherford walks inside the line to shovel it behind square leg. Gets more of a top edge and it goes right back towards the screen behind the wicket. 21 runs off the over with a ball to go.

FOUR! Agricultural but effective. Very full, darted in at the toes. Rutherford gets the front leg out of the way and has a swing at it. Gets it off the inner half behind square leg for four more.

FOUR! Powered away. That is a shot and a half. Short and outside off, around the tramline. Rutherford hangs back and hammers it away off the back foot through extra cover. The ball skips across the turf and beats the man in the deep to his left.

Wide! Tries to keep it away from the batter's arc but this is spilled beyond the tramline.

Angled away, flat and full, Rutherford has a swipe across the line but the ball skids through to go under the blade.

SIX! Into the stands! Sherfane Rutherford brings up his FIFTY in grand style, the 8th of his T20I career. He is making a habit of starting the over with a six. Sherfane has produced ball striking of the highest order tonight. Full and pushed across off. Rutherford just swings through the line and slams it over long off for a maximum.

Axar Patel (1-0-16-0) is back on.

Good comeback by Dhir after being hit for a six on the first ball, just a single off the next 5 balls. Spinning back in towards the pads, on the shorter side.  Hope fails to help it away. The ball brushes the thigh pad and trickles towards short fine leg. 7 runs off the over. West Indies need 121 runs in 54 balls.

Flat and short, outside off. Hope presses back and taps it down the deck.

A slight halt in the play as Naman Dhir gets a bit of treatment to his bowling hand. He hurt his fingers while trying to guide that throw onto the stumps, but he seems fine to continue.

Had to hurry! Slower through the air, on a length, on off. Rutherford dabs it wide of cover and hurries to the other end. Shreyas Iyer swoops in and fires in a throw on the bounce. Dhir gets behind the stumps and tries to deflect the ball onto the stumps with the right hand but does not succeed in doing so. Sherfane was in anyway. Even with a direct hit, the left-hander would have been safe.

Drags the length back and it is bowled at 93.4 kph. Sherfane flashes but is beaten past the outside edge.

Gets in the wide yorker, near the tramline. Sherfane digs it out to backward point.

Sanju Samson has a quick word with the bowler before the next delivery, and there are a few tweaks made to the field.

SIX! High and long enough. Sherfane Rutherford begins yet another over with a biggie. Full and following the batter as he backs away. Rutherford clears the front leg and clobbers it over the deep mid-wicket fence.

DRINKS BREAK! Wow, what a huge moment in the game just before the break. A wicket at this stage would have been ideal for India, who are desperately searching for a breakthrough. This partnership has given Shreyas Iyer and the Indian think tank plenty to ponder. Axar Patel was taken off after an expensive first over, but Iyer might turn to him again after the break as he looks to break this stand. West Indies have done well to keep up with the required run rate, and they need this pair to shoulder the bulk of the remaining chase. That becomes even more important with uncertainty surrounding Romario Shepherd, who walked off the field earlier with a niggle. Naman Dhir to bowl after the break.

DROPPED! Mayank Yadav puts down a dolly of a chance, and Kuldeep Yadav isn't impressed one bit. Kuldeep drifts this one down the leg side, Rutherford sits down and tries to half-sweep, and ends up shovelling it straight to short fine leg. Mayank snatches at the ball and ends up shelling it down. The batters get a single, and West Indies are 122/3 at the halfway stage.

Can't get it through this time, and it becomes two dots in a row. A tad short and wide again. Rutherford waits back to cut and finds the fielder at backward point, who makes a sharp stop.

Oh, nearly an outside edge. Pushed through flatter and outside off, getting it to skid through. Rutherford stays back to cut but is beaten past the outside edge.

A tossed-up wrong'un from Kuldeep, full and going across the off stump. Hope plays the lofted drive, slicing it on the bounce to deep cover for a single.

Floated up down leg, Rutherford tucks it 'round the corner on the leg side for a single.

SIX! That's been swung hard and long by Rutherford. Tossed up on off stump, Sherfane Rutherford gives it his all and swings through the line, smashing it back down the ground for another biggie.

SIX! Swatted away by Shai Hope, he brings up his 14th T20I FIFTY. Dube switches things up by bowling a short ball over middle, but this one sits up for the batter. Hope gives himself a bit of room before clubbing it over cow corner for a six. This is now Hope's fourth straight score of fifty or more on this tour.

Full again, at the stumps and shaping back in. Rutherford backs away a touch, hitting it on the full and towards deep cover for just another single.

Dube finds the blockhole this time. Full and straight, Rutherford looks to slog it over mid-wicket but ends up inside-edging it onto his boot.

Very full and straight, driven down to long on for a run more. Actually, the throw from the deep is a wide one and the back up fielder is unable to make the stop, conceding the extra run.

Drifted into the pads, Hope ends up chipping it off the leading edge through wide mid on and picks up a single.

SIX! That's massive! Pitched up at the stumps, angling into the swinging arc, and at a gentle pace as well. Shai Hope just clears the front leg and hits through the line, launching the ball over long on for a biggie. 100 UP FOR WEST INDIES.

Dragged back and pushed wider of the off stump. Rutherford reaches out and scythes it away but straight to backward point.

Flatter one, sliding it across the right-hander. Hope camps back and cuts it to deep point for one more.

A mishit but Rutherford gets away with it. The googly now, on off and middle, Rutherford swings through the line, getting it off the inside half of the blade and down to long on for a single.

Full and at the toes, bunted away towards cow corner for a couple of easy runs.

SIX! Dispatched with aplomb! KD flattens it up, bowling a tad short on middle and leg. Sherfane Rutherford rocks back and lays into the slog, hammering it for a 96-meter biggie over deep mid-wicket.

Nicely tossed up, very full and outside off. Shai Hope sets up for the big shot, but adjusts and just squeezes it through covers for a single.

Shreyas Iyer turns to Kuldeep Yadav.

Full of a good length, on off, and sliding nicely onto the blade. Hope hits it square through the off side for a single. 14 off Dube's first over.

Good-length delivery sliding into the pads. Shai Hope neatly tucks it away to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder and comes back for the second run quite comfortably.

WIDE! Dube goes wide of the off stump, taking some pace off and ends up spilling it beyond the tramline.

A low full toss on middle, flicked away through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Another shot filled with class. Hard length, slanting it wide of the off stump. Rutherford lets the ball come on and just angles it down behind point for another boundary.

Very full and speared in towards middle and leg. Hope drills it with a straight bat and down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Excellent placement. Just back of a length and outside off. Hope presses back and glides it between short third and backward point for a boundary.

End of a riveting Powerplay. India were 79/1 at the end of their Powerplay. Shivam Dube comes into the attack.

Bowled from around the wicket, quicker and fuller on off. Rutherford nudges it back down the pitch. Yadav fails to gather it cleanly on the follow-through, and the ball rolls to mid off. Rutherford wants the single, but Hope sends him back. West Indies are 72/3 at the end of the Powerplay.

SIX! What a shot! A length ball on the pads, not as quick as the rest of the delivery, a shade under 140 clicks. Rutherford nonchalantly whips it off his legs, sending the ball sailing over deep square leg for a biggie.

FOUR! Cracking shot. Pitched up wide outside off, at 145.7, and Rutherford is waiting for it. Rutherford leans on and creams the drive through square covers, making it back-to-back boundaries.

FOUR! Dug in a bit shorter around off, Sherfane Rutherford leans back to pull and forces it more off the toe end of the blade between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

Full of a good length, angled across off. Sherfane Rutherford lets the ball come on and eases it to point.

India break a blossoming stand. Sherfane Rutherford is in at number 5.

OUT! BOWLED! It is truly Mayank Yadav's day - a searing delivery at almost 150 kph, and he breaks the budding stand between West Indies' two most experienced batters. Yadav steams in and serves it on a good length on off, at 149.5 kph and gets the ball to skid through. Rovman Powell makes the big mistake of trying to hit across the line, that too off the back foot and is undone by sheer pace. The ball just flicks the flap of his pads and hammers into the stumps, sending the off stump cartwheeling. Yadav has three, and West Indies are 58/3 inside the Powerplay.

Final over of the Powerplay coming up. It will be Mayank Yadav to bowl it.

Low full toss, on off and middle. Powell drives it wide of mid on for a single.

FOUR! Not in control but they all count. Dug in short, over middle. Powell takes it on but the ball climbs onto him and catches the top edge. It flies down to the vacant deep fine leg fence for a four.

FOUR! Just a chip, and it is enough to find the fence. Singh pushes the length up, on off. Rovman presents the full face of the bat and just checks his lofted hit. He still manages to clear the infield comfortably, getting it over wide mid off for a boundary. The 50 comes up for West Indies.

Arshdeep bangs it in short, outside off. Powell lets it go through to the keeper. That looked high but the umpire is happy with the height.

Pace off, into the wicket, near the tramline. Shai reaches and taps it wide of extra cover for a single.

Low full toss, on off. Powell does not try to muscle this one and just tries to thread the gap. He angles the drive wide of mid off, where Shreyas Iyer moves to his left and slides to cut it off. Just a single.

Despite the two wickets, West Indies are going at nearly 12 runs an over, and yet they need to go at an even quicker rate. Arshdeep Singh is back on, but from the other end.

Very full, around the off stump. Hope can't squeeze it through the off side and ekes out an inside edge onto the pads. 16 runs off the over.

Patel gets away with it. Axar slides onto the pads with square leg up inside the circle. Hope fails to flick it away and wears it on the pads.

SIX! Sent into the crowd! At 105.8 kph, pushed through, short and on middle. Shai backs away and frees his arms before launching it over long with relative ease for the second six of the over.

Slows it down, slower through the air, on off. Hope chops it down to point.

SIX! Up, up and away! West Indies on the charge, 20 runs in 4 balls. Axar bowls into the wicket, on middle. Hope has ample time to rock back in the crease and hit through the line of the ball, tonking it over long on for half a dozen.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Darted into the left-hander, on a length, on middle. Hope backs away, opens up the front hip and goes inside out over cover for a boundary.

FOUR! Through the gap. Fractionally short and equally wide on off. Powell stays back in the crease and gets his hands through to play a firece cut past point for a boundary.

SIX! All the way. That's what can happen when you have express pace but don't get it right. Mayank bowls the short ball but the line is a little too straight this time. Powell just uses the angle and hooks it away over long leg for a maximum.

Serious heat from Mayank Yadav. It read 140 kph on the speed gun, but the ball seemed to gather pace off the track. Powell is in two minds about whether to hook it away or let it go. He eventually lets it through as the ball flies past him and Sanju Samson gathers it around his head.

A run saved. On a back of a length, around the off stump. Hope stays beside the line and plays the lofted hit on the rise. Shai is early into the stroke and gets it off the bottom half of the blade. He manages to clear mid on and picks up three runs as Arshdeep Singh gives chase and slides to haul it in.

A swing and a miss! Mayank bashes the hard length, over off. Hope gives himself room and swings across for the pull but can only connect with thin air.

That took off. At 144.9 kph, Hope anticipates the length to be on the shorter side, and he backs away early. Shai shows his cards early and Mayank follows him with a hard-length ball. Hope presents a straight bat to keep it out but is beaten past the outside edge.

Oh, nearly another ball that dragged onto the stumps. The length is pulled back ever so slightly, on off. Powell hangs back to play it square of the wicket on the off side but the ball tails back in late to clip the right elbow of the batter before it rolls away towards slip.

At 133.9 kph, on a good length, a hint of inward shape. Powell defends with the bat close to his front pad and stabs it down on the off side.

Going away, on a back of a length. Shai stands tall on top of the bounce and knocks it past cover. There is protection in the deep and it will be just a single.

Arshdeep dishes out a bumper, over off. Hope drops his wrists and sways away from the line of the ball.

FOUR! Nicely done. On the fuller side, swinging back in, on middle and leg. Hope brings his wrists into play, gets under the ball and whips it over wide mid on for four more.

FOUR! No need to run for that. Bowled across off, on a back of a length. Hope gets the width and he cashes in. He rides the bounce nicely and slaps it past cover for a boundary.

An eventful first over comes to an end. It will be Arshdeep Singh to operate from the other end.

Goes past the bat! In the channel, on a good length, angled in before moving away off the seam. Powell has a tentative poke at the ball away from his body. Gets beaten on the outside edge does, Rovman. End of a probing first over by Yadav.

FOUR! Does not carry and it seeps through. Mayank goes full in search of swing but ends up dishing out a low full toss and drifts onto the pads. Powell flicks it a bit uppishly towards mid-wicket, where Ravi Bishnoi dives forward but the ball reaches him on the bounce and goes under his hands before racing away.

High pace and high impact from Mayank Yadav with the new ball. Rovman Powell now walks out to face the hat-trick delivery.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! A golden duck for Shimron Hetmyer. West Indies have been rocked early in a big chase. Hooping back into the left-hander at 145 kph, on a back of a length, on middle. Hetmyer takes a step or two down the track as he looks to deal with it. The ball cuts back in to graze the inside edge, and it clips the top of the leg stump as the bails fall off. Two in two for Mayank and he is on a hat-trick now. West Indies are 5/2, chasing 250.

The next batter is Shimron Hetmyer.

OUT! CAUGHT! A steepler taken well by Ravi Bishnoi as he makes an impact as a sub fielder. End of a short stay for Kamil Pooran, who is enduring a rough start to his T20I career, having dropped Sanju Samson earlier in the night. Dug in short pace by Mayank, on middle. Pooran makes room for himself and has a swing at it. Skies it a long way up towards mid-wicket. Ravi Bishnoi steadies himself under the skier and keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through before snaffling it close to his body.

FOUR! That should have been stopped. Shreyas Iyer will be disappointed with himself. Around off, on a nagging length. Pooran gives himself room and slams it over mid off. He does not quite get hold of it but manages to clear Shreyas Iyer there. Iyer gives chase and overruns the ball with the slide. He has a couple of cracks at pushing the ball away from the fence but fails to lay a hand and the ball trickles into the fence.

Nearly went to hand! Mayank steams in from over the wicket and hits the hard length at 144 kph. Hope stands tall and tries to bash it down the ground with a horizontal bat but he plays it well in front of his body. Gets it right off the toe end of the blade and it spoons back towards the bowler. Yadav sticks out the right hand but the ball stays out of his reach and dribbles wide of mid on.

FOUR! A teaser for Shimron Hetmyer and it will be a boundary to end the innings. India finish on 249/5. Springer digs it in short again, over middle. Dhir swings across for the pull and skies it wide of deep mid-wicket. Shimron Hetmyer runs across to his right and slides but the ball does not carry to him. He does not manage to get his body behind the ball to save the boundary as the ball bounces past him and trickles into the fence.

Naman Dhir walks out to face the final delivery of the innings.

OUT! CAUGHT! Shreyas Iyer holes out. Shamar bangs it in short, angled into the right-hander. Iyer does not quite get the room to get his hands through the line for the pull. The ball hits the splice of the bat and goes only as far as deep mid-wicket, where Shimron Hetmyer runs in off the ropes and bends to take the catch just above the turf. End of a breezy cameo by the Indian skipper.

Varies his length as he goes full now, on middle. Varma can't get under it and knocks it to long on for a single. India move to 245, this is now India's highest score in T20Is against West Indies.

SIX! High and long enough. A hat-trick of sixes from Tilak Varma. Bowled into the deck again, on off. Tilak picks up the length early and sets up a solid base for himself. Even though he gets it high on the bat on the attempted pull, he gets enough to clear the deep mid-wicket fence.

There is a slight hold-up in the play as Shai Hope has a word with Shamar Springer, and Shamar Joseph has joined the conversation as well.

SIX! Two in two for Tilak. Springer goes searching for another yorker, this time on off stump, but errs in length and serves a full toss. Tilak Varma takes a step across to the off side, gets under it and slams it towards the sightscreen for a biggie.

Before the start of the over, an overrate penalty had been imposed on West Indies. This means there will be only four fielders outside the inner ring.

SIX! Stand and deliver. Slower one, on a back of a length, on off. Varma stands tall and slams it with a high elbow over wide long off for a biggie.

Low full toss, on off and middle. Iyer clears the front leg and smears it away wide of deep mid-wicket. Keemo Paul is quick to his left in the deep and slides to prevent the boundary. He releases the ball before his feet come in contact with the boundary cushions. Two runs taken. 11 runs off the 19th over.

Had to hurry! Off-pace delivery, angled away from the left-hander, on a good length. Varma walks across for the scoop but does not have much pace to work with. Toe-ends it onto the pads and he is called through for a quick single. Iyer scampers through and gets home as Joseph tries to deflect the ball onto the stumps with his right boot but misses.

An optimistic shout for LBW. Tailing back into the right-hander, on a length. Iyer has a swipe across the line but is beaten for pace and gets hit on the front pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes away on the off side. Shamar Joseph goes up in appeal, but there is not much interest shown by Shai Hope, and the skipper does not mind taking a chance and sends it upstairs. No bat involved, but the Ball Tracking has the ball going past the leg stump. The on-field call of Not Out stays. West Indies have no reviews left.

A half-hearted appeal for LBW, which isn't given, but Shai Hope does take the review. The third umpire has a look, and there's nothing on UltraEdge, with Ball Tracking showing the ball to be missing leg stump comfortably. Not Out!

FOUR! Nearly went the distance. Joseph bends his back and digs it in short, over off. Not the best of balls with third man inside the circle. Iyer stands tall on his toes and gets his hands high to play the upper cut. The pace of Joseph nearly carries the ball all the way as it bounces just in front of the boundary cushions.

Very full, not allowing the batter to get under the ball. Tilak smashes it to long off for a single.

Mishit but safe. Dug in short, skidding through to hurry the batter. Tilak tries to take on the short ball but gets it high on the bat. It lands in the vacant mid-wicket region and the batters pick up a couple of before any of the deep fielders can get in off the ropes.

Shamar Joseph is back into the attack to bowl the crucial 19th over.

FOUR! Exquisite from the Indian skipper. The 50-run stand comes up in 22 balls. Springer nails the yorker but Iyer is one step ahead as he hangs deep in the crease and manages to scythe it away to the right of the man at deep backward point for a boundary. 21 runs off the over.

No damage done. Banged in short, angled in towards the right-hander. Iyer attempts the hook but the ball sails over his blade. Iyer has a look at the square leg umpire as he feels that the ball went over his head but the umpire is unmoved.

Taken at deep cover but it won't matter. Springer gets it all wrong as he slips in a chest-high full toss, on off. Varma has a swing at it and gets it away towards deep cover, where Kamil Pooran charges in and dives to take the catch. They cross. No Ball given. Free Hit coming up.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. Springer pulls the length back and keeps it around the tramline. Varma moves across to the off side and slices it over backward point. There is a man in the deep at a wide deep third but he is beaten to his left.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough. A low full toss, dipping on the batter. Varma hangs low and swings through the line. Hits it to the left of the man at mid off and the long on fielder stands no chance. Tilak brings up 5,000 runs in T20 cricket with this boundary.

Spears in the yorker, outside off. Iyer runs it down to deep third and turns the strike over.

SIX! Clean as a whistle. The 200 comes up for India. Springer goes searching for the yorker but fails to get it full enough. This is right in the slot, in and around the off stump. Iyer hangs deep in the crease, clears the front leg and mows it over cow corner for a maximum.

Which Shamar will it be to bowl potentially two overs at the death - Joseph or Springer? It will be Shamar Springer, who does switch ends.

Gets the yorker in this time, does Powell. Iyer slices it to deep point for a single. 7 runs off Powell's 2 balls but the over goes for 16 runs.

SIX! Launched down the ground. Powell begins from around the wicket and tries to angle the yorker across the right-hander. It ends up being a low full toss. Iyer reaches out in front and tonks it towards the sight screen for a biggie.

Uh, oh! What's happened here? It seems like Romario Shepherd is walking off the field. Hopefully, it's just cramps. West Indies would hope that he can bat, because he might come in handy in a big chase. It will be Rovman Powell to complete the unfinished over.

Banged in short, around the left shoulder. Tilak presses back for the pull but is rushed. He mistimes the shot to deep mid-wicket. They cross.

Tighter line but the length stays full, on off. Iyer has a swing at it but does not get hold of it. He gets it away towards deep mid-wicket for just a single.

SIX! That is an incredible shot. Shepherd tries to keep it full and wide. Iyer reaches out and collapses his back knee. He opens the bat face and carves it over point for his first six of the night.

Not sure why Shamar Springer has been given a rest after that wicket-taking over. Maybe he'll change ends or bowl just one more over at the death.

At 131.2 kph, very full, near the tramline. Varma moves across to get closer to the line of the ball. He chops it down wide of point for a single.

Yes, he does. Keeping it away from the batter's arc, on a back of a length. Tilak is made to reach out as he tries to force it through the off side. Ends up hitting it a lot straighter towards mid off and the batters pick up a quick single. 9 runs off the over, not a bad one from the Windies perspective in the context of the game.

Slips in the yorker, around off. Iyer gets his bat down and glides it to short third for a quick single. This has been a good comeback from Joseph after being hit for a four. Can he finish well?

Another off-pace delivery, leaving the left-hander on a length. Tilak shanks it off the inner half towards wide long on for one.

Takes pace off and goes into the wicket, on off. Iyer flat bats it without much timing towards long off for a single.

FOUR! Up and over. Not the correct option to bowl full with mid off up inside the circle and Joseph is made to pay for it. Iyer gets under the ball, and even though the bat turns in his hand, he gets enough wood on it to clear the leaping Shamar Springer at mid off.

Pace taken off straight away, bowled on a good length, on off. Varma stands with an open stance, punching it to deep cover for a single.

Shai Hope brings back Shamar Joseph. Having conceded 20 runs in his first over, Joseph will be keen to make amends.

A single to end a productive over from Springer. The attempted wide yorker and Varma has to reach for it, managing to hit it towards sweeper cover for a run.

Back of a length and over middle, this is pulled away to the left of Shimron Hetmyer at deep mid-wicket for a couple of more runs.

FOUR! Fine timing on the very first ball. Full and around off, ends up being a bit too full. Tilak Varma hangs deep and moves to the off side before drilling it to the left of mid off for a boundary. Sherfane Rutherford puts in a valiant dive but only ends up hurting himself a bit.

Sanju Samson walks off to a standing ovation from the dugout. This is turning out to be a good phase in the game for West Indies. They have two new batters at the crease as Tilak Varma joins the skipper out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! West Indies are just getting a bit more teeth in this contest now, and it is Kamil Pooran who makes amends for an earlier dropped catch. Still, the damage has been done as Sanju Samson walks back after a fine knock. Shamar Springer cleverly takes pace off and digs it in short, outside off. Samson leaps up and goes after it, trying to uppercut it over deep third but doesn't get all of it. The ball sails down the throat of the fielder in the deep, and Pooran makes no mistake this time around.

That's a top delivery. Springer goes wider on the crease and spears in a perfect yorker around the middle stump line. Sanju Samson just about manages to get his front boot out of the way and jams it out.

Very full and around off, nearly a perfect yorker, but ends up being a low full toss. Iyer hits it off the inside half of the blade to deep mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

Shamar Springer has been brought back. He went for 12 runs in his only over so far.

Another single to close out a fine spell from Roston Chase. Fullish length around off, smacked away towards long off for a run more. Chase finishes with figures of 4-0-24-3.

Full and at the toes, Samson clips it through square leg and turns the strike over.

Nagging length on off and middle, Shreyas Iyer covers the line and pushes it down to long on for a single.

Roston Chase continues to make an impact. The skipper, Shreyas Iyer makes his way out to the middle.

OUT! PLAYED ON! A third wicket for Roston Chase and for West Indies. Slightly unlucky for Shivam Dube, but he has to walk back here. Chase bowls this one from the front of the hand, at around 92 kph and on a good length around off. Dube leans back and swipes across the line but gets an inside edge that goes on to catch his back leg and then deflects onto the stumps. The bails fall off and India are now 158/3.

Really slowed up, full and angled well wide of the off stump. Dube reaches out and ends up smothering it into the off side.

FOUR! Dube decides to pull the trigger now. Floated up around leg stump, Shivam Dube clears the front leg and swings across the line, slogging it towards cow corner for a boundary.

Hard length around leg, worked away behind square leg for a single. 12 off the over, including four wide balls.

Good from Shepherd. A length ball on leg, trying to shape it into the left-hander. Shivam Dube hangs back and to the leg side, trying to heave it away but is beaten between bat and pad.

A low full toss on middle, Sanju gets low and uses the wrists to whip it away towards deep mid-wicket for a run more.

WIDE! This is turning into a long over. Full and wide, trying to get the ball away from the hitting arc, but does end up past the tramline again.

Hard length over middle and leg, tucked away down to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Pushed well wide of the off stump, Samson reaches for it, slashing it away down to deep third for a single. 150 is now up for India.

FOUR! Bowling to his field this time, Shepherd, but Samson still manages to get a boundary. Short and around off, Samson hops up and ramps it down to fine deep third, and because there is also a short third in place, the fielder in the deep is well wide and it will be a boundary.

WIDE! That's a howler from Romario Shepherd. Shepherd goes wider on the crease and tries to bash it into the deck, but ends up pitching it almost beyond the cut strip on the off side.

WIDE! And again, but on the leg side this time. Full and angled into the pads, but Romario fires it down leg.

WIDE! Full and wide outside off, dragged beyond the tramline outside off. Samson leaves it alone.

Romario Shepherd (2-0-26-0) returns to the attack. Can he build on the good work done in the previous over by Roston Chase?

Speared in a bit, fuller and on middle. Samson covers the line well and drives it to long on for a single.

Good length around off, punched off the back foot and a bit uppishly past the non-striker for a single.

Floated up now, on leg stump. Dube leans on and pushes it down to the left of the bowler. Chase dives and deflects it to mid-wicket. Another dot ball.

WIDE! The faster ball, spilled down the leg side at 113.1 kph.

Shorter this time, on off. Dube stays back and pushes it down to extra cover.

Slower and on a good length, sliding it across off. Shivam Dube pats it down to cover.

End of a 97-run stand. Shivam Dube has been promoted up the order.

OUT! BOWLED! Roston Chase has been West Indies' best bowler in this T20I series, and once again, he is the one to break a big stand. Ishan Kishan is a bit too early to back away and exposes all three of his stumps as he moves leg side. Chase holds it back a touch before darting it in a bit fuller and on off. Kishan tries to cut, but the ball skids through and sneaks past the blade, hammering into the off pole and knocking it out of the ground. Chase gives Kishan a bit of a send-off as well.

Spin back on through Roston Chase. He has been the pick of the bowlers with figures of 1/14 so far in his 2 overs.

Dug in short again, angled across off. Kishan leans across and mistimes the pull down to long on for a run.

FOUR! A first real attempt at a bumper, and unfortunately, it's gone to the fence. Dug in short and over middle, Kishan is rushed as he tries to pull and gets a top edge that flies down to deep third for four runs.

Looking for the yorker, Springer errs on the fuller side a bit. Samson toe-ends the low full toss down to long on and pinches the single.

Full and straight now, Kishan swings it away flat and down to long on for just a single this time around.

FOUR! Kishan is starting to get on a roll now. Full again, dished out wide of the off stump. Kishan reaches out and spanks it between mid off and cover for a boundary.

A very full ball outside off, Sanju Samson just opens the bat face and squeezes it away down to deep third for a single.

DRINKS BREAK! A tough first 10 overs in the field for West Indies. They have been inconsistent with their lines and lengths, and when they have bowled a few good balls, the fielding has let them down. Sanju Samson has been handed a couple of lives, and he's making the most of them. Ishan Kishan also looks in pristine touch, and India seem on course for a score upwards of 220 or even 230 given how much batting is still to come. The Windies need to wrestle back momentum and for that, they need wickets in a cluster. Can they do that? Let's find out. Here's Shamar Springer to have a bowl now.

FOUR! Put away with disdain! An expensive first over from Shamar Joseph as he concedes 20 runs. Bowled into the deck by Joseph, but this sits up to be hit, on off. Kishan climbs all over it as he drags the pull in front of square, and the ball skips across the turf, beating the man in the deep to his right.

West Indies aren't happy with that decision and they feel there was a noise as the ball passed the bat, but UltraEdge has shown a flat line, so that's that.

Half a shout for caught behind, a belated one at that. It is turned down by the umpire. Shai Hope takes the review almost immediately. Down leg, on a back of a length. Kishan hops to pick it away behind square leg but is beaten for pace as the ball goes through to the keeper, Shai Hope, who moves quickly to his right and snaffles it. Flat line on UltraEdge, much to the surprise of the Men in Maroon. The on-field call of Not Out stays, as does the call of Wide. West Indies lose their first review.

FOUR! Easily done. Joseph looks to go full but ends up with a low full toss, on middle. Kishan brings his wrists into play and flicks it through square leg, leaving neither of the two deep fielders with any chance of cutting it off.

SIX! That has gone back many a mile. Joseph hurls it on a good length, on middle. Kishan leans across and collapses his back knee. He plays the pick up shot and parks it deep into the stands behind square leg for a maximum.

Fuller in length, even quicker this time at 145 kph, on the off stump. Samson leans on for the drive but the bat turns in his hand. He miscues it off the inner half to deep square leg for a single.

That has flown through. At 143.6 kph, on a short of a good length, outside off. Sanju makes room and flashes but is beaten for pace and bounce as the ball sails over the blade.

FOUR! Welcomed with a boundary. Joseph begins too straight, on a back of a length, around the thigh pad. Samson gets on his toes and helps it to the left of the man at short fine leg for an easy four.

Time to shake things up and bring on Shamar Joseph? Yes, indeed.

Darts in a yorker, following the batter as he backs away. Samson jams it out to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hang on, the ball is being changed. Did the previous ball go missing? No, it's just because of the dew, and there's plenty of it already. The bowling side will definitely like a drier ball given the strokeplay on display.

FOUR! Nearly went the distance. Not all that short, on off. Samson opens up the front hip and keeps a still head as he slams it inside out over cover. It is hit well wide to the right of the man at sweeper cover.

Speared in at the toes, very full. Samson can't help it away and wears it on the boot.

Across off, on a good length. Kishan clears the front leg and has an ungainly swipe across the line. Mistimes it through mid-wicket for one.

Short and fast at 93.8 kph, on middle. Sanju pulls it hard and wide of deep mid-wicket. Romario Shepherd is quick to his left and tidies up. Just a single.

SIX! High and handsome! Motie drops it short, bowled slower through the air, on off. Samson makes room for himself and unleashes the pull off the front foot over wide long on for a biggie. The 100 comes up for India.

Gets it very full, on middle. Samson digs it out past extra cover for one.

On off, not all that short, that is cut away through point for a single.

FOUR! The 50-run stand comes up with this boundary. A little too straight, on the shorter side, on leg. Kishan leans inside the line and sinks to a knee. Shovels it behind square leg and beats the man in the deep to his left.

On a good length, on middle. Kishan steps out and punches it on the up to cover.

Full and darted in at the pads. Kishan sweeps with the angle but can't get it past the man at short fine leg.

Short and a hint of turn, on middle. Sanju nudges it to wide long on for a single.

Another bowling change? Yes, Roston Chase is back on. So, no Shamar Joseph yet, or even Shamar Springer.

Fractionally short, outside off, Kishan flashes but fails to connect.

SIX! Put away. Motie errs in his length as he dishes out a juicy full toss, on middle. Kishan does not miss out as he clubs it over cow corner for half a dozen.

Skidding through, short and on off. Ishan chops it down the deck.

Nails the wide yorker, does Motie. Kishan lets it go but the ball is within the tramline.

Flat and short, on middle. Sanju taps it to long off for one.

Full and across off, Kishan eases it wide of cover for one.

A mighty Powerplay for India, and they are going at over 13 runs an over at the moment. Gudakesh Motie comes on to bowl now.

FOUR! Lovely stroke and that brings up a FIFTY for Sanju Samson, his 9th in T20Is. A much-needed return to form for Samson after a string of low scores. Full and on off. Samson stays beside the line of the ball and leans into the drive. Plays it all along the ground in the gap between cover and mid off for a boundary. 15 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, India are 79/1.

FOUR! Insult to injury. Following the batter as he backs away with a full ball. Samson has a hack across the line. It  comes more off the inner half and goes wide of mid-wicket to his left for a boundary.

Did that carry? It just about did, the replays indicate. Another reprieve for Samson. Pitched up by Romario, on middle. Samson backs away and looks to go over mid off. Hits it flat towards mid off, where Gudakesh Motie is on the edge of the ring at mid off. The ball dies on Motie, who dives forward to take the catch but the ball yorks his fingers and he can't get his hands under the ball. It goes behind for a couple of runs.

A mix-up and Ishan Kishan was gone had the throw hit. On a back of a length, on off. Kishan stabs it down wide of point. A bit of yes and no before Samson calls his partner through for a quick single. Roston Chase is quick to his left and has a shy at the bowling end but misses. Kishan was struggling to make his ground and would have been short.

FOUR! Punished. Short and wide on off. Kishan cashes in on the width as he frees his arms and spanks it away with no intention of keeping it down. Roston Chase at point flings himself to his left and goes for the catch with his left hand but the ball stays out of his reach and races away into the fence.

Nearly dragged it back onto the stumps. At 130.5 kph, on a good length, on off. Kishan tries to angle it behind point with the angle but the ball is a bit too close to his body. He chops it down at his feet before the ball bounces over the sticks.

Romario Shepherd returns to close out the Powerplay.

Back to over the wicket for the left-hander. A bit fuller and on middle, Ishan Kishan leans on and clips it through mid on for a single to get off the mark. India are flying at 64/1 after 5 overs.

Good length, pushing it across from middle and off. Samson stays back and slaps it down to long off, picking up a single.

FOUR! That's a tough pill to swallow for the bowler. Akeal comes over the wicket and floats it around the leg stump line. Samson has a slog across the line but gets an inside edge that runs way wide of short fine leg and beats the chasing fielder into the fence.

SIX! A short-arm jab now. Fired in at the toes, ends up being a slot ball. Sanju Samson clears the front leg and slams it over long on for another six. 16 off the first 3 balls in this over.

SIX! Even better! Full and straight, sliding onto the bat nicely. Sanju Samson keeps the formula simple and backs away yet again, and cleanly thwacks it well over the cover fence for a biggie. 50 UP FOR INDIA.

FOUR! Glorious from Samson. A bit more floated up by Hosein, on off and middle. Sanju backs away and opens the face of the bat, lifting it over square covers and the ball skips away to the fence.

West Indies have their first breakthrough. In walks the local boy to a rousing reception from the crowd. Here's Ishan Kishan. Akeal Hosein will bowl a third over in a row.

OUT! CAUGHT! Roston Chase's length to Abhishek Sharma has been impeccable, and he does break this fiery opening stand. Chase bashes the hard length again, keeping the line fairly straight. Sharma stays back and looks to bludgeon it over mid-wicket, but mistimes it badly. The ball lobs up over mid on, where Gudakesh Motie moves back and takes it safely to his left. India are 42/1 after 4 overs.

Short of a length, on middle and leg, and skidding through. Sharma forces it out to cover.

Full and fast, darted in on middle and leg. Samson keeps the front leg out of the way and jams it down to long on for one more.

Dragged length, angling in from middle to off. Sharma stays back to pull but ends up slicing it down towards long off for just a single.

This one is speared in at the toes, at 112.6 kph. Sanju waits back and clips it through square leg for a single.

FOUR! Forced over the off side. On a good length and around off, Sanju Samson goes through with the lofted shot against the spin and he gets it over wide mid off for a boundary.

Roston Chase comes into the attack as the first change.

A bit fuller, sliding back into off and middle. Samson shows the full face of the bat and pushes it down to long off for a single.

Again, Samson looks to muscle the ball and doesn't find enough purchase on it. Fuller one, Sanju Samson stays back and swings across the line, only managing to cue-end it in front of square leg for a couple of runs.

Pushed through flatter on off, there's no spin on offer and Samson just taps it in front of point.

SIX! Sanju Samson takes full toll of the freebie. Fuller and angled into the batter. Samson takes the front leg out and tonks it high over cow corner for a biggie.

No ball! Now, now. That is a cardinal sin from the bowler. Flatter and attacking off stump, Samson stays leg side of the ball and smacks it down to point. Akeal Hosein has overstepped and a Free Hit will now follow.

DROPPED! Kamil Pooran has not had the best of starts to his T20I career, and this drop will only frustrate him further. Good length around off, it is the one that slides on with the arm. Samson backs away and laces it flat to the left of cover. Pooran lunges across but the ball hits him on the wrists and the ball spills out on the ground.

FOUR! A genuine edge! Quicker one, short of a good length and around off. Sanju Samson goes after it, trying to muscle it through the off side but gets an outside edge down to deep third for a boundary.

FOUR! The change-up doesn't work for the bowler. Slower one at 104.5 kph, pitched up on middle. Sharma hits through the line, pummeling it straight back down the ground for another boundary, making it another productive over for his side.

Romario pulls the length back by a couple of inches, keeping the line tight around off. Sharma punches it on the up and gets it wide of the fielder at deep cover for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Wowza! Length again from Shepherd, in and around off, not a bad ball at all. Abhishek Sharma just taps it down towards cover and times it exceptionally well and the ball races through the gap for a boundary.

Good line and length. Hitting the deck hard and attacking the top of off and middle at 130-odd clicks. Abhishek Sharma stabs it in front of covers.

Hard length, angled back into the batter. Samson tucks it off the back foot and gets it through square leg for a single.

A lucky escape for Romario Shepherd. Length ball, sliding down leg, Sanju Samson flicks it on the bounce to the fielder at short fine leg. A yard on either side and that would have run away to the fence.

A positive start for India. Romario Shepherd will share the new ball.

SIX! Launched over the off side! Full and on off, right in the slot. Sharma backs away and hits with the angle, whacking it over the cover fence for a biggie. 10 off that first over from Akeal Hosein.

Darted in a bit fuller, attacking middle and leg. Abhishek Sharma stays leg side of the ball and pushes it down to mid off.

Not perfectly timed, but enough to clear the infield. Good length, in and around off, Abhishek Sharma makes room and goes after it, slashing it over cover-point for a couple of runs.

On a length, darted across the left-hander. Sharma stays upright and goes after it, but mistimes it to covers.

That's angled back in a fair bit. Fullish length, sliding back in from off to leg. Sanju Samson backs away to open up the off side but gets an inside edge towards backward square leg for a single.

Off the mark right away. Floated up down the leg side, Abhishek Sharma glances it away to the left of short fine leg. Romario Shepherd puts in a lunging dive to save the boundary and Sharma gets off the mark with a single.

We are all set to get going in front of what is already a full house. The two umpires make their way out to the middle, followed by Shai Hope and his men. Out walk the two Indian openers, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. West Indies are starting with spin in the form of Akeal Hosein. Abhishek will take strike. The countdown is done, and off we go...

A chat with India's star opener - Sanju Samson says the team had a decent hit in the nets yesterday after a travel day. Mentions that the preparation has been pretty much the same, with nothing different, and he is excited to play at the venue, which he describes as a well-built stadium. Samson feels he has played well enough and is keen to move forward without looking back or second-guessing himself. He stresses the importance of trusting his game plan and expressing himself to the fullest.

West Indies (Playing XI) - Shai Hope (C/WK), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, and Gudakesh Motie (In for Matthew Forde).

India (Unchanged Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav.

The skipper of India - Shreyas Iyer says that they were looking to bowl first as well, but hopefully the pitch stays the same. Iyer adds that he wants his team to be engrossed in the game for the complete duration of the 40 overs. Iyer then goes on to say that he wants the team to raise the standards every passing game by keeping their focus and challenging themselves. He ends by mentioning that they are going in with an unchanged XI.

The captain of West Indies - Shai Hope says that it is a no-brainer to bowl first as it is already wet and he expects it to get even worse. Hope says the team will look to learn from the mistakes made in the first match. He acknowledges that India are a quality side and stresses the need to be more disciplined, as they cannot afford to give them too many chances. Informs that they have made one change, with Gudakesh Motie coming in for Matthew Forde.

TOSS - The two captains are out there in the middle. Shai Hope calls correctly. West Indies will BOWL first.

Latest report from the ground - Aakash Chopra, who is at the venue, informs the broadcasters that he doesn't expect any changes in the Indian team. He informs that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did bat for a bit but didn't take part in fielding drills, which indicates that he is sitting out. He also mentions that Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi bowled extensive spells in the nets, which means they aren't getting a go either, and feels that it is a toss up between Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav, but expects Mayank to keep his place for this game.

PITCH REPORT - Ian Bishop shares that it is fairly cool, with the temperature around 24 degrees Celsius. The square boundaries are equidistant at 67 metres, while the straight boundary measures 77 metres. Informs that the surface is made of black soil. Abhinav Mukund notes that there is very little grass on the surface, but it looks hard underneath. Feels dew could come into play later. Shares that the venue witnessed a high-scoring ODI against South Africa last year, and another run-fest could be on the cards. Believes that the team batting first would ideally want to score 20 to 30 runs more to account for dew.

Not quite a batting paradise - Ranchi isn't one of those Indian venues where you'd see 200-plus being scored with ease, but rather a venue that rewards good bowling as well. A score of around 180 could be competitive, but we'll have to wait and see what actually happens once the batters take guard. Stick around for the toss and team sheets, which aren't far away.

Changes expected in both camps - It was a relatively straightforward win for India in the first game, but they might still consider bringing in Prince Yadav in place of Mayank Yadav to tighten the bowling, or maybe they might give Mayank a longer run, who knows. Also, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will once again be in the talks, but again, even with Sanju Samson's lack of current form, it will be tough for the youngster to find a place in the XI. Meanwhile, West Indies might look to cash in on Amir Jangoo's recent form and find a place for him in the line-up, most likely for Kamil Pooran, who didn't have the best debut in the last match. They might also look to make a change or two in the bowling line-up, maybe even an extra spinner given Ranchi's history of being a slowish deck.

Welcome to the land of Thala - Hello and a warm welcome to one and all. We're in Ranchi, the home of arguably India's most iconic wicketkeeper and captain, MS Dhoni, for the 2nd T20I between India and West Indies. The hosts have a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, thanks to a stellar maiden T20I ton by skipper Shreyas Iyer in the first game. The Windies will be eager to get back on level terms and avoid falling too far behind.

... MATCH DAY ...

The battle moves to Ranchi - India have wasted little time in taking control of the five-match series, but the contest now moves to Ranchi with West Indies needing to find a response. The visitors were comfortably beaten in Lucknow, where India chased down 172 with 32 balls to spare, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. The result was convincing, but with four games still to play, West Indies have an opportunity to quickly turn the narrative around. A win here would not only level the series but also put the pressure back on India, who will be keen to establish a firm grip before the teams move on to Indore. India look to push on - India could hardly have asked for a better beginning to the series. The biggest positive was the way their batting responded after losing Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson early, with Shreyas Iyer producing a sensational unbeaten 102 off 43 to take the game away from West Indies. It was Iyer's maiden T20I century and, more importantly, came at a time when questions had been raised about his own form. His innings has changed the mood around the captain, but the challenge now is to make sure it was the beginning of a sustained run rather than a one-off. Plenty of firepower remains - Ishan Kishan also made a useful 37 off 27 in the chase, continuing the form that made him one of India's most exciting batters heading into the series. With Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (if given a chance) providing explosiveness at the top and Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel still to come, India's batting remains packed with options. The interesting question is whether they can maintain that aggression if Ranchi offers a different challenge. India were able to dictate terms once Iyer settled in at Lucknow, but West Indies will be determined to make sure the hosts don't get another free run at the target. Another test for the attack - India also have reason to be pleased with the way their bowlers handled the opening game. West Indies were restricted to 171 after reaching 44/3 in the Powerplay, and the attack kept finding ways to pick up wickets through the innings. Naman Dhir made an immediate impact on debut, returning 3/31, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav claimed two wickets apiece. Arshdeep Singh also struck early, while Mayank Yadav offered the additional pace option. If they want, they can also bring in Prince Yadav to strengthen the pace attack even more. That gives India a nice mix of experience, variety and raw pace. They will now want to replicate that discipline rather than allow West Indies' power hitters to settle into the game. West Indies seek a revival - For West Indies, the first game was another reminder that potential needs to translate into complete performances. Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford provided the bulk of the resistance with 52 and 56 respectively, but the rest of the batting could not build enough momentum around them. The visitors have too many dangerous players to allow one or two batters to carry the innings. Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd and Kamil Pooran all possess the ability to change the complexion of a T20 game, while the likes of Roston Chase and Shamar Springer add further depth. The key will be getting more of those pieces firing at the same time. If West Indies can give their bowlers a stronger total to defend, the contest could look very different. A chance to strike back - There will also be some frustration around the way their first innings unfolded. After Hope and Rutherford had rebuilt the innings, West Indies needed one of them to carry on and provide a bigger finish. Instead, wickets kept interrupting their progress and India were able to keep the scoring under control. They now have another opportunity to get their aggressive batting philosophy right. The series is long, but falling 2-0 behind would leave them with very little margin for error. Can the Windies turn the tables? West Indies have already shown during the ODI series that they are capable of making India uncomfortable, and their squad has enough match-winners to produce a response in this format. The challenge is putting together a more complete performance, particularly with the ball. Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase both picked up wickets in Lucknow, but West Indies were unable to stop Iyer once he got going. Their attack will need to find ways of breaking partnerships earlier and preventing India from reaching another position of complete control. The new-ball battle could be particularly important with Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde needing to take up more responsibility. If West Indies can make early inroads into India's batting, they can expose the middle order to a different kind of pressure. If they don't, India have enough depth to punish them. Looking at the conditions - Ranchi can offer a surface where the spinners and bowlers who vary their pace become important, meaning the batters may need to work harder for their shots than they did in Lucknow. And that is why the average first-innings score in the last ten T20s hover just over 150 at this venue. That could make the middle overs particularly significant, with both teams likely to look towards their spin options to control the game. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - IND - WWWWW | WI - LWLWL. One step closer or back to square one? India have the first advantage, but this is where the series can begin to take shape. Another victory would give the hosts a 2-0 lead and put West Indies under considerable pressure, while the visitors know that a strong performance in Ranchi can wipe away much of the disappointment of Lucknow. For India, it is about showing that the opening win was not simply one outstanding night from their captain. For West Indies, it is an opportunity to prove that they have more than enough firepower to compete with the reigning T20 world champions. With the series still wide open and both sides having plenty of room for improvement, Ranchi could provide a very different contest from the opener.