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

SIX! Goes the distance but it won't be enough as India win by 14 runs and go 2-1 up in the series. A touch short and a bit wide outside off, Springer creates room by backing away, and flat-batting it over long off. Clean strike by Shamar. He finishes with a quickfire 35 off 11, though it ends up being purely a consolation.

Floated up, fuller than a length, around off, Springer heaves it off the inner half of his bat. Goes a bit uppishly to the right of long on. They do not run.

SIX! Some shot, that. Sliding into the batter, on a good length. Springer rocks back and nails the pull shot into the stands behind deep mid-wicket. West Indies go past 200!

FOUR! Springer showing his batting skills here. Short and wide outside off, Shamar Springer stands tall and carves it over backward point for a boundary.

Quicker at 100.6 kph, on a length, outside off. Springer tries to cut it hard to the off side but inside edges onto his pads.

SIX! Pure muscle power! Drops it full and on the leg stump. Shamar sinks to his back knee to get low and brings his long levers to play. He finds the middle of the bat and smokes it over long on for a massive six.

Axar Patel to bowl the final over of the game.

Another slower ball, short at 113.6 kph, Chase fetches it from outside off and drags it to widish deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

A deceptive slower delivery, dug in short and over the stumps. Roston Chase shuffles far outside off to help it over short fine leg but swings early and is beaten.

Attempted yorker at the stumps, Springer makes room and hammers it down the ground for a single only.

SIX! Into the second tier! That's a mighty hit from Springer. Prince lands a half-volley, right into the slot in front of the stumps. Shamar gets his front leg away and clobbers it over long on for a biggie. 40 needed off 9 balls.

Short of a length, outside off, Roston stands tall and pulls it on the bounce to Tilak's right at long on. Just a single.

A low full toss on the off stump line. Shamar works it to long off for a single.

Goes for the yorker but spills a full toss, on off. Roston Chase drills it between long on and long off. The long on fielder swoops across, dives and saves a couple of runs for his side.

That should be the game right there. Roston Chase comes out to the middle.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! A fast bowler's delight. And that should be the game for India as Rutherford departs. An inswinging yorker, right on the money. Sherfane clears front leg away to swing over mid-wicket, but the ball dips and sneaks right under the bat to crash into the base of middle stump.

Low full toss, angling in, Springer works it down to long off for a single.

FOUR! Oh, what a fine shot! Back of a length from around the stumps. Shamar Springer stays leg side of the ball, lets it arrive at him, uses the pace and places it beautifully between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Shamar Springer walks out to bat. Ian Bishop shares an interesting tidbit about him, revealing that Springer was initially seen as a batter who could bowl before bowling became his primary skill.

OUT! CAUGHT! Paul falls in an attempt to go big, and that's wicket number 2 for Arshdeep. He hunts for the yorker around middle and leg, and Paul backs away, looking to clear the deep cover fence. The ball soars high towards deep extra cover, where Tilak Varma settles under it and takes a safe catch. West Indies are 169/6, needing 55 runs in 16 balls.

Straight on the stumps, 135.3 kph, almost a yorker, Sherfane Rutherford smashes it to long on for a single. India won't mind singles at all at this stage.

Arshdeep Singh returns for his final over with West Indies needing 56 runs from 18 balls. 3-0-36-1 so far for Arshdeep.

In the air... PUT DOWN! A tough, tough chance though. A low full toss outside leg, and Rutherford goes to flick but gets a leading edge that balloons up over the umpire's head. Prince wants it himself, turns around, sprints back and puts in a dive, but cannot hold on. A single taken.

FOUR! These are easy pickings for Rutherford! Slower at 114.6 kph, short and outside off, Sherfane Rutherford waits on it and swivels to pull it over short fine leg, beating deep backward square leg to his left for a boundary. 57 needed off 19 balls.

Goes for the yorker and gets a bit of a reverse as well. Paul clears the front leg but mistimes the heave towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Spears it full and straight, on leg, Sherfane strokes it powerfully to long on for a single.

Low full toss, around off, Paul drills it to long off for a single.

Very full on leg, Rutherford swings hard and whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Prince Yadav (2-0-17-0) is back. He has two overs left, while Arshdeep Singh has one, so Nitish Kumar Reddy is the likeliest option to bowl the remaining over, unless Shreyas Iyer turns to one of his two spin options.

Attempted yorker on the stumps, Keemo Paul takes it on the full and whips it through mid-wicket. They run the first run hard as Axar charges in off the ropes. But by the time he picks and releases a rocket-throw to the bowler, the batters hustle back for the second. Not a bad over from Reddy. Just 10 runs and a wicket off it.

SIX! Fine shot! He has made that look so easy. Fuller and wide outside off. Keemo Paul reaches out for it and smokes it into the stands behind deep extra cover.

Swing and a miss! Full and outside off at 134.6 kph, Keemo Paul shuffles across his stumps, drops down on one knee and goes for the sweep, but is beaten on the inside edge.

Keemo Paul is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT BY TILAK! A very important wicket for India as Nitish delivers. He fires it wide outside the off stump, on a fuller length. Quentin Sampson tries to tonk it over long off, but fails to get underneath the ball properly. Hits it flat to Tilak Varma at long off, who takes a sharp catch. Sampson walks off and is visibly frustrated with himself. West Indies are 151/5, needing 73 runs from 27 balls.

Bowls a yorker from around the stump, outside off, Rutherford drills it back past the bowler and down to the left of long off for a single.

Lasered in straight, full and outside off, Quentin fails to get underneath it and carves it to deep extra cover for a single. 150 up for the West Indies!

Into the final stretch of the game we go. West Indies need 75 runs in 30 balls, with the asking rate being 15 rpo. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been brought into the attack.

Over off, on a short of a good length. Sampson rises with the bounce and punches it to deep cover for a single. 15 runs off the over.

This is bowled at 148.2 kph, on a good length, on the off stump. Sampson is hurried and just about manages to chop it down.

While we wait for the ball to be returned from the stands, Shreyas and Samson walk up to Mayank to have a word. Tilak also joins the conversation before they disperse. Good to resume.

SIX! Caribbean flair on display. Mayank bashes the hard length, on off. Sampson is ready for that length and pivots to smack the pull over wide long on, lifting the front leg in the process in Calypso style.

The length is pulled back now, on off. Sherfane unleashes the pull wide of deep mid-wicket but can't find the fence. Nitish Kumar Reddy tidies up in the deep with a sprint to his left. Just a single.

SIX! That is clean as a whistle. Mayank gets the yorker wrong and dishes it out right in the slot, on off. Rutherford needs no second invitation as he holds his shape and dispatches it over long on for half a dozen.

Hits the hard length and does not offer the width for Sampson to free his arms. This is flat batted to long on for a single.

Mayank Yadav returns for his final over. 3-0-19-0 so far for Mayank.

Switches to over the wicket and spears in a yorker, on off. Sampson squeezes it out to long off for a single. West Indies require 90 runs off the final 6 overs.

Wide! Wide yorker attempted but this is well wide on off. Quentin Sampson lets it be.

Slips in a full ball, honing in on the off stump. Rutherford drills it to long on for one.

Into the wicket, on off. Rutherford swings across for the pull but does not manage to get it away as he toe-ends it to the right of the bowler.

Low full toss, on the pads, flicked to deep mid-wicket for just a single. 8 runs off the first 3 balls. 93 needed off 39.

Wide! Nails the yorker but drifts just past the tramline. Quentin tries to guide it behind point but fails to lay any bat on it.

Arshdeep bashes the back of a length and tucks the batter up for room. Sampson swivels for the pull but is hurried and cramped for space. He mistimes it towards the vacant mid-wicket region and that actually allows Quentin to come back for the second run.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow. Arshdeep slants in a full ball at the sticks. Sampson gets his hands out in front and gets under the ball, thumping it over the umpire's head for a boundary.

Arshdeep Singh (2-0-25-1) is back into the attack. He replaces Prince Yadav.

SIX! Tonked. Nitish Kumar Reddy can't get out of the over quietly. Still only 9 runs in the over, which is under par given the context of the game. Reddy takes pace off and bowls it on a length, on off. Rutherford lets the ball arrive and launches it over long off for half a dozen.

Pace off, on a good length, outside off. Rutherford hangs back for the cut but gets it off the toe end to short third.

On the bounce. Reddy gets it very full, on off. Rutherford tries to get under the ball but does not manage to get the desired leverage. Spoons it on the bounce to extra cover.

Low full toss, tailing back in towards the leg stump. Sampson smears it away to deep mid-wicket. They cross.

Comes from around the wicket for the left-hander, and attempts the yorker but it comes out as a low full toss, on off. Sherfane squeezes it out to long off for a run.

Fine effort! Full and straight, at the sticks. Sampson powers it down the ground with a straight bat. Tilak Varma is quick to his left at long on and flings himself at the ball to save a boundary. Just a single.

West Indies need 110 runs from 48 balls. And it's time for Nitish Kumar Reddy to have a bowl now. He replaces Naman Dhir.

Nails the yorker, on off. Sampson jams it out through covers for a single.

Wide! Daren Ganga was just pointing out how effective the short ball had been against Quentin Sampson in the CPL, and Prince Yadav produces one here. Sampson lets it pass. Too high for the umpire's liking.

Serves it fuller at 136.7 kph, on middle. Rutherford knocks it to long on and gets to the other end.

Skidding through, on a back of a length, on off. Sampson dabs it to the right of point and gets off the mark with a single.

Lands it full, on off. Quentin does not move his feet much and taps it to cover.

On a good length, on the off stump. Rutherford drops it in front of cover and crosses over.

FOUR! Fast hands from Rutherford. Going away, on a back of a length. Sherfane cashes in on the width and plays a fierce cut past backward point for a four.

India continue to make inroads through spin. And what a series Naman Dhir is having! He has picked up some really crucial wickets. Quentin Sampson is the next batter in at number 6. Two new batters at the crease now. Also, Prince Yadav returns into the attack. 1-0-8-0 so far.

OUT! CAUGHT! Naman Dhir gets hit for a six and strikes on the very next ball, for yet another time in the series. Dhir slows it down and drags the length back, on middle. Pooran clears the front leg and has a heave across the line but is not to the pitch of the ball. Gets it off the bottom part of the blade and it goes only as far as deep backward square leg, where Arshdeep Singh steadies himself near the ropes and takes the catch. Pooran falls just as he has had started to open up. West Indies are 105/4, needing 119 from 54 balls.

SIX! Well, well, the third six of the over and the 100 is up for the West Indies. Flighted delivery, on a length, on middle. Pooran sinks to a knee and nails the slog sweep over deep square leg for another six. Whatever Daren Sammy said to Kamil Pooran during the break seems to be working.

Drifting in, full and on middle. Rutherford comes down the track and powers it away to long on for a run.

Full and darted in at the stumps. Pooran has a swipe across the line and mistimes it square on the leg side for one.

SIX! Up, up and away. Dhir fires it in full but overpitches, outside off. Kamil extends his hands into the lofted hit and thumps it over wide long off for half a dozen more.

Wide! Spinning down leg. Pooran swings and misses.

SIX! High and handsome. Kamil Pooran finally gets one away. Is this the shot that gets Pooran going? Floated up, on a good length, not all that full for the slog sweep but Pooran goes for it and parks it into the crowd towards deep mid-wicket.

Tailing into the batter, full in length. Pooran flicks it along the turf to deep mid-wicket for a single. End of a successful over for India and Axar. Just 4 runs and a wicket from it. At halfway stage, West Indies are 84/3, needing 140 runs.

From around the stump, this is fuller and drifting outside off, Sherfane Rutherford taps it through cover-point for a single.

DRINKS BREAK! Rovman Powell falls, and with that, it's time for a breather. Kamil Pooran has found it difficult to get going, which perhaps forced Powell to take a risk early in his innings. From India's perspective, the good news is that the dew hasn't arrived yet, keeping their spinners very much in the game. There isn't extravagant turn on offer, but the surface has enough to work with for them to make an impact. In walks Sherfane Rutherford, one of the architects of that record chase in Ranchi, and West Indies need him to pull off something similar here.

OUT! MISTIMED IN THE AIR AND GONE! Something had to give and Powell gets consumed by the pressure. Length ball outside off, and Powell comes dancing down the track for the release shot, aiming to go inside out over the off side. He gets it all wrong, slicing it up into the air, and Kishan strolls in from the deep point to pouch an easy catch. A bit of a redemption for Axar, who went wicketless in the previous game and went for plenty. West Indies are 82/3, needing 142 more runs in 62 balls.

Around off and middle, full in length, Pooran fails to time the sweep shot and it rolls to the right of deep square leg for a single.

Too full at 95 kph, on middle, Powell heaves it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Stump-to-stump delivery, full in length, Powell pushes it back to the bowler.

Quicker through the air, 94.5 kph. Rovman Powell goes deep inside the crease and nudges it to the right of deep mid-wicket. There is a slight fumble by the fielder but he is quick to recover. Just a single.

Lands in front of the stumps, full in length. Pooran gets low on his knee and sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a single.

On the stumps, slightly fuller than a length. Powell rocks back and steers it past mid-wicket for a single.

Pushed wide outside off, full in length, 90.2 kph. Kamil Pooran tries to fetch it for a sweep but loses his bottom hand and mistimes the shot through square leg for a single.

Short again, but outside off, Powell whips it off the back foot to long on for one more.

Short on off, spinning in. Pooran mistimes the heave off the inner half to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Around off and fuller, Kamil eases it through extra cover for a single.

Beaten! Axar spots Kamil backing away to create room to access the off side, or perhaps going down the ground, and smartly darts the ball on the leg stump, following the batter. Pooran swings for the hills but gets beaten on the inside edge, but he keeps his back leg grounded inside the crease as Samson whips the bails in a flash.

Slower and shorter, on off, Pooran hangs back and chops it away to cover.

FOUR! Up and over and Pooran will feel mighty relieved. Slightly back of a length, around off. Pooran backs away and hammers it over the leaping extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Sliding into the batter, on a length, Powell hangs deep inside the crease and knocks it down to long on for a single.

Length ball outside off. 94.2 kph. Pooran backs away and punches it to deep extra cover for a single.

Shimron Hetmyer can't make the most of the reprieve. Rovman Powell walks out to bat. The former Windies skipper has had a quiet series so far. Axar Patel has been tossed the ball.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Dhir roars back in style and gets rid of the dangerous Hetmyer. Quicker one from Dhir, on a good length, pitching around middle, and the ball skids on through quickly. Hetmyer rocks back, looking to whip it away, misses, and it strikes him on the back leg before deflecting on to uproot the off stump behind him. West Indies are 67/2, needing 157 more runs.

SIX! WOWZA! That's some hit! A smidge short of full, on leg. Shimron Hetmyer sinks his back knee into the pitch and nails the slog-sweep behind the deep square leg fielder for half a dozen runs.

FOUR! Just a little bit of bat on it but Hetmyer will take it. Angling into the left-hander, full in length. Shimron Hetmyer jumps down the track to give it a mighty heave over the leg side but gets an inside edge and the ball races to the deep fine leg fence.

Holds on the surface ever so slightly, touch full on middle and leg. Shimron Hetmyer tries to whip it to the leg side off the back foot, but gets a leading edge and the ball rolls to cover.

Wide! Drifts one down the leg side, on a length, Hetmyer misses to tickle it behind. Samson swiftly moves to his right to grab.

Drops short and outside off, Pooran slaps it to long off for a single.

Fired fuller on leg, Hetmyer misses the flick and the ball trickles in the leg side for a leg bye.

That's the Powerplay done. At the same stage, India were 87/1. The wheels of the buggy cam are still dry, so the dew hasn't arrived just yet. Time for spin as Naman Dhir comes on. Umpire Virender Sharma has a word with Shimron Hetmyer, who has taken a little too long to get ready to face the ball.

Pitched hard into the surface, on off, Hetmyer stands tall and punches it to widish mid off for a single. Another fine over from Mayank, just 10 runs from it. West Indies are 54/1 at the end of the Powerplay.

Cranks it up at 141.4 kph, on a good length, around off, Shimron is hurried into the pull shot but the ball stays low to beat his swinging blade.

FOUR! 50 up for the West Indies! In 5.4 overs. Short of a length, pace off at 119.5 kph. Hetmyer fetches it from outside off and nails the pull shot wide of mid on for a boundary.

Comes bustling from around the stumps and slams it hard into the pitch. Short outside off, Shimron leaves it through.

Mayank bangs in a sharp bumper and follows the batter as Kamil moves leg side. Pooran swings to pull but the ball gets big on him and he ends up mistiming the shot to deep fine leg for a single.

FOUR! Not timed well enough, but gets it away. Fuller ball on the leg stump, Kamil Pooran swings hard across the line but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat and rifles through to the deep backward square leg fence.

We have a spicy contest in Indore, folks. West Indies need 180 runs in 90 balls. Change of ends for Mayank Yadav, who replaces Arshdeep Singh and will wrap up the Powerplay.

Full and quick, on off. Pooran firms the drive towards mid off and hurries to the other end. Shreyas Iyer has a shy at the bowling end but misses. Kamil was home anyway.

Bowled on a length, on off. Shimron clips it in front of square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

FOUR! Not in control but Hetmyer gets away with it. Prince bends his back and digs it in short, over off. Hetmyer walks into the shot and tries to take the short ball on. He can't get on top of the bounce and a top edge is found. Luckily for him, it sails well over the head of the man at short fine leg and races away.

Just a bye! Sanju Samson does really well to lay a glove on it. Full and trying to tuck the batter up for room. Pooran clears the front leg and swings with all his might but is beaten past the inside edge. It whistles past the leg stump and Sanju Samson moves well with the ball to his left. He gets his left glove behind the ball, making a half stop.

Prince loses his run up and pulls out just as he reaches the bowling crease. Walks back to reload.

No ball! Spears in the yorker, on off. Hettie jams it out to mid on and crosses over. Oh, Prince has overstepped. Free Hit coming up. Can Pooran cash in?

In and around the off stump, on a good length. Hetmyer shapes up to swing through the line and go down the ground. He gets it right off the toe end and the ball dribbles towards mid on.

At 137.5 kph, on a good length, on off. Hetmyer chops it down to cover.

First bowling change by India. Here's Prince Yadav, replacing Mayank Yadav.

FOUR! Smart batting. Arshdeep spots Pooran backing away and he tries to follow him with a full ball. Kamil gets enough room to get his hands through the line of the ball and cleverly carves it over cover to pick up a boundary. A very productive over for West Indies, 19 runs off it. 189 needed from 96 balls.

Nails the yorker, on middle. Shimron knocks it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Floated up, another slower one, full and at the sticks. Hetmyer gets his hands out in front and flicks it to the left of mid on for a four.

FOUR! Threads it through. Takes pace off, on a nagging length. Hetmyer is slightly early into the shot and punches it uppishly but gets it away from the diving Nitish Kumar Reddy at cover to his left for a boundary.

SIX! Into the stands. On a length, on off. Hetmyer puts his head down and just swings through the line, clubbing it over wide long on for half a dozen.

On off, on a nagging length. Hettie punches it back to the bowler.

Good effort! On the shorter side, on off. Hetmyer punches it wide of cover, where Axar Patel dives and makes a half-stop, keeping it down to just a single.

TWO WIDES! Pace off and on a shortish length. Pooran looks to shovel it away but misses. Sanju Samson moves to his left and does well to get the left glove on the ball as it bounces in front of him. It is parried behind as the batters cross.

DROPPED! That should have been taken. On a hard length, on off. Hetmyer stands tall to punch it away. The ball nibbles away a touch to take the outside edge and it flies quickly to Abhishek Sharma, who, due to Mayank's pace, is standing on the edge of the ring at short third and is placed fine. It comes around the midriff for Sharma, who has his fingers pointing neither upwards nor downwards, somewhere in between. The ball seems to have got big on him, and he spills the chance. Sherfane Rutherford was given a reprieve in Ranchi and made India pay dearly. How costly will this drop prove to be for the Men in Blue?

FOUR! No need to run for that. Mayank errs in his line as he offers width, on a back of a length. Hetmyer hops and gets on top of the bounce nicely. Punches it all along the ground through covers and the quick outfield does the rest.

Hits the top of the off stump, does Yadav. Hetmyer steers it with an open bat face to backward point. Three dots in a row.

And again. Mayank pulls the length back and pushes it across. Shimron has a loose poke and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Goes past the bat. Going away from the left-hander on a good length. Hetmyer hangs his bat out away from his body, trying to run it down but is beaten for pace. That read 151 kph on the speedgun, the fastest ball of the series, informs Murali Kartik.

Full and around off. Hetmyer leans on to drive it through the off side but the bat turns in his hand and he miscues it wide of mid-wicket for a single. End of a successful over for Arshdeep and India.

A match-winning century in the previous game, but Hope falls cheaply this time. Arshdeep, who went wicketless and for plenty in Ranchi, has given India a massive breakthrough. Shimron Hetmyer is in at number 3. With just 5 runs in the series so far, 'Hettie' will look to deliver this time around.

OUT! TIMBER! Arshdeep Singh has the prized scalp of Shai Hope, who has been a thorn in India's flesh across both ODIs and T20Is. Angled back into the right-hander, on a back of a length. Shai backs away and has an ungainly swipe across the line. It sneaks under the blade and crashes into the top of the middle stump. Windies suffer a big blow early in the chase of 224.

FOUR! Gets it through. Singh attempts another yorker but ends up being a bit too full, around off. Hope just extends his hands and knocks the low full toss in the gap between cover and mid off for a boundary.

Prodigious swing for Singh. Switches to around the wicket and nails the inswinging yorker, on off. Shai hurriedly gets his bat down to keep it out.

This goes the other way and the length is pulled back as well. Pooran lets the ball come on and drops it in front of cover for a quick single.

Swing straight away for Arshdeep. Tailing back in at the toes, very full. Kamil squeezes it out to mid-wicket.

A very disciplined start by Mayank. Arshdeep Singh will share the new ball from the other end.

A big swing and a miss. At 148.2 kph, slanting in on middle and leg, on a short of a length. Hope dances down the track and swings for the hills but can only connect with thin air. End of a fiery first over by Mayank.

Bowled into the deck, cutting back in towards the right-hander to cramp him for room. Pooran swivels for the pull but misses and wears it on the thigh pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball drops beside the strip on the leg side.

Hits the back of a length, on off. Pooran presses up on his toes and angles it to backward point.

Curving away, on a good length, around off. Kamil dabs it to cover-point.

A stifled appeal for LBW! Not much interest shown by the bowler, as he feels that there was an inside edge and the replays confirm that. At 149 kph, angled in on a nagging length, on off. Pooran hops to nudge it away but ekes out an inside edge onto the front pad.

Hope and West Indies are underway. Mayank steams in from over the wicket and pitches it up, getting the ball away in the air. Hope dances down the track and backs away as well. He digs it out to cover, where Tilak Varma moves to his right but lets it through, conceding a single.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! India have been bowled out 223. Shamar Joseph gets the yorker spot on, right in the blockhole, on middle and leg and it tails back a bit as well. Just too good for Mayank Yadav, who is late to get his bat down. The ball sneaks under the blade and brushes the boot before crashing into the stumps.

Oh, what’s going on there? Shai Hope is locked in a stare-down with the on-field umpire, Virender Sharma, while Chase is having an animated conversation with the other on-field umpire, J Madanagopal. Looks like Hope is discussing whether the ball ought to have been called dead once the keeper had collected it, but the umpire holds firm and the bye stands.

Sloppy! Slower one, on a good length, outside off. Yadav hangs back and flashes but fails to connect. Shai Hope gathers and lobs it towards Shamar Joseph, who stays side-on to collect the ball. He lets it through and as the ball rolls down the ground, the batters sneak in a bye.

FOUR! Not where Prince intended but he will take it. These are important runs for India. Shamar bangs it in short, angled in towards the right shoulder. Yadav backs away and has a swing at it. He miscues it off a thickish outside edge and it flies over short third for the 3rd boundary in 4 balls.

FOUR! Clever batting. Joseph hurls a low full toss, on middle and leg. With fine leg up inside the circle, Prince walks across for the scoop and gets it over short fine leg for a four.

Gets the yorker in now, on middle. Prince digs it out back to the bowler.

FOUR! Shamar Springer's effort goes in vain. Joseph looks to slip in the yorker but misses his mark. It is a low full toss that tails back in a touch, on middle. Prince smears it away wide of deep mid-wicket. Springer sprints to his left and dives. He gets a hand on it but it is not enough to stop the ball from touching the boundary cushions.

Mayank Yadav is the last batter in for India. And Shamar Joseph (3-0-42-1) will bowl the final over of the first innings.

OUT! LBW! Trapped in front. Not the best of balls but that is how the game goes sometimes. Springer attempts the yorker but ends up bowling a thigh-high full toss, on off and middle. Arshdeep shuffles across, expecting the wide line. He has a heave across the line but is beaten past the inside edge as the ball thuds into the front pad. No bat involved, and it is three reds on Ball Tracking, with the ball crashing into the off stump. India are now 210/9.

SIX! Absolutely nailed! Springer bangs it in short, on middle. Arshdeep stands tall and climbs all over it, smacking the pull over deep square leg for a biggie.

Well bowled! Into the wicket, slower one, on middle. Arshdeep swings across for the pull but he is early into the shot and he fails to connect.

Low full toss, on off. Prince jams it out to long on for a single.

Full and on off. Arshdeep thumps it to long off for one.

Schoolboy error in running between the wickets. India are falling apart in the backend. Prince Yadav is in at number 10.

OUT! AXAR PATEL IS RUN OUT! India suffer another blow due to some ordinary running. The yorker is nailed by Springer, on off. Patel gets his bat down and glides it to backward point. A loud call of 'No' by Axar but Arshdeep keeps running and Axar could have sent his partner back but he eventually crosses over, and there is no way he is going to make his ground. Keemo Paul bends low, picks up the ball, and lobs it towards Shamar Springer at the bowling end, who gets behind the stumps quickly to catch Axar well short of his crease.

Shamar Springer (3-0-42-1) is back on and will bowl the penultimate over.

Low full toss, on off. Axar extends his hands and firms the drive towards wide long off, keeping the strike with a single. Just 6 singles off the over.

Short of a length, on the leg stump. Not much room for Singh as he mistimes the heave to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wide outside off, full in length. Patel slaps it to long off for a single and 200 is up for India! 14 balls left.

Yorker at 135.6 kph, Arshdeep jams the bat down as his head falls over but squeezes it out, wide of mid off for a single.

Bangs it short and outside off, Axar mistimes the uppercut aerially but it goes on the bounce to Rutherford's right who charges from deep backward point. One run taken.

Wide outside off, a low full toss. Singh reaches out and the ball squirts off the bottom edge to deep third for a single.

With three overs remaining, Keemo Paul is back on to bowl out. 1/32 so far.

Full and around leg. Singh slogs it away towards deep square leg for a single.

Shorter and around leg, Axar goes back in the crease and flicks it away through mid-wicket for a single.

A very disappointing end for Tilak. Absolute brainfade moment. Arshdeep Singh is in at number 9.

OUT! TILAK VARMA IS RUN OUT!  That is ordinary cricket. A schoolboy error from India's vice-captain, and Gautam Gambhir is rightly not best pleased. West Indies have been gifted a wicket here. Motie tries to dart in a full ball but it comes out as a low full toss, on middle. Patel does not try to overhit this one and just flicks it behind square leg. Kamil Pooran covers good ground to his left and dives. The ball parries off his hand and lobs behind him, but Pooran is aware of where the ball is, and he puts in another dive to prevent the ball from touching the boundary cushions, and he succeeds in saving the boundary. The Indian pair assume it is a boundary and exchange a fist bump in the middle before heading back to their respective ends. Shai Hope collects the throw from the deep and breaks the stumps, but Axar Patel has just about managed to ground his bat. Hope is quick to spot that Tilak is still short of his ground and lobs the ball towards Gudakesh Motie, who breaks the stumps to catch Tilak well short.

Wait, what just happened here? Axar and Tilak, both convinced the ball had found the rope, stop running and meet mid pitch for a celebratory fist bump. West Indies sense an opening and go up with a run out appeal! Kamil, it turns out, had fumbled the ball at first but is deemed to have saved the boundary and threw to the keeper. The TV umpire checks the striker's end first, and Axar is safe, with his bat dragged in just before Hope whips off the bails. The other end tells a different story. Hope's throw finds the bowler, Motie gathers it and breaks the stumps, and Tilak, caught napping, is well short of his ground.

Fires it in full at 99.3 kph, on middle. Tilak wrists it in front of square on the leg side and rotates the strike.

Fuller and near the tramline. Axar loses his shape as he swings a bit too hard. Shanks it off the inner half towards wide long on for just a single.

FOUR! In the gap. Flat and short, skidding through. Axar just stands tall and plays more of a jab than a pull. Hits it well to the left of the man at deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. Yorker attempted by Springer but it comes out as a full toss, on off. Varma does not miss out, dragging it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a four. 13 runs off the over.

Following the left-hander with a full ball as he backs away. Axar whips it to wide long on for a single.

FOUR! A better effort was needed there. Full and on middle, Axar makes room and cracks the drive past extra cover. Shamar Joseph sprints to his right and puts in a dive but dives over the ball and it goes under his body to touch the boundary cushions.

Buzzers! Full and at pace, on off. Axar drills it wide of extra cover and hurries to the other end. A direct hit or a throw even somewhere around the stumps, with Shamar Springer present to collect throw, would have had Axar in trouble. The throw goes wide of the bowler and it rolls towards square leg, allowing the batters to pick up one more.

Nails the yorker, on off. Varma jams it out towards mid off and gets to the other end.

Takes pace off straight away and this is angled in on a length, on middle. Patel flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

At 134.4 kph, Paul goes short and outside off, Patel hangs back and cuts it to deep cover-point for a single. Just 12 runs from the last 2 overs for India. West Indies are doing really well to put the squeeze on the hosts.

At pace now, full outside off, 133.9 kph. Tilak Varma shuffles to the off side and hammers it down the ground. Rovman Powell dashes to his left and sticks out his left hand while diving. Manages to save a certain boundary at long off with that exceptional effort. Restricts the batters to one run.

Slower bumper around off. Tilak covers the stumps and controls the pull shot behind square on the leg side. They run the first one hard and push for the second. Axar has to hurry as the throw arrives to the bowling end, but Kamil Pooran misses his shy. Two runs taken.

Around the stump. Very full on middle, Patel flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Down to the last recognised batting pair as Axar Patel makes his way out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Paul breaks the 34-run partnership which was just starting to find its pace. Keemo hurls it on a fuller length, but angles it down the leg stump line. Nitish Kumar Reddy tries to tickle it behind to the leg side but only manages a faint deflection off the inside edge to the keeper. Shai Hope bends low and grabs it nicely. There's an appeal for caught behind and the umpire obliges. Reddy does not review. He looked good for his 21 but departs as India are 169/6.

Shorter and wide, Tilak Varma fetches it from outside off and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Keemo Paul comes back on, replacing Shamar Joseph.

Flatter and quicker at 104.1 kph, sliding outside off. Tilak cuts it along the ground to deep point for a single. Motie manages to keep the batters quiet as he concedes just 6 from his third.

Tad short at 100.3 kph, outside off, Reddy drives it on the up to long off for a single.

This one skids through, on a length, around off, Nitish is hurried on the cut shot and ends up chopping it to covers.

Dropped short on leg, Nitish Kumar Reddy lets the ball drift and knocks it to the right of Powell at long on for a couple of runs.

Pitched outside leg, on a flatter trajectory, Varma flicks the full ball to deep mid-wicket for one more.

At 94.7 kph, this is pushed through, on a length, on leg. Nitish hangs back and steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Gudakesh Motie is back. 2-0-22-1 so far for Motie.

FOUR! Carved away! A very expensive over from Joseph as he goes for 18 runs. Too full and wide outside off, Varma reaches out and shovels it away, into the cover-point gap for a boundary.

Nails the yorker in, a proper toe-crusher from Joseph. Reddy manages to jam the bat down in time and squeezes it out through mid off for a single.

FOUR! Placed to perfection! Around off on a good length, 147 kph. Nitish waits for the ball to arrive. Plays it as late as he can and cuts it through backward point and it just races to the fence in the blink of an eye.

FOUR! What a glorious stroke! Angled in at the pads, full in length. Nitish Kumar Reddy nails the flick shot to the vast gap at deep mid-wicket for a boundary. The timing and balance were just spot on. That brings the 150 up for India.

Short of a length, on off, Varma covers the stumps and knocks it along the ground to long off for a single.

FOUR! Much-needed one for India! Hits the length hard, outside off. Tilak presses back and punches it crisply through covers, beating Hetmyer in the deep to his left for a boundary. That just blazed away.

Shamar Joseph has been brought back.

Nice and full, outside off, Reddy drives it to the cover fielder. Another exceptional spell of bowling from Chase. 2/38 in 4 overs for him.

A fraction fuller than a length, around off, Reddy chop-cuts it to the cover-point region.

FOUR! Misfield from Pooran awards Reddy a boundary. A tad short on the middle and leg stump line, Nitish Kumar Reddy is quick to rock back and pulls it to the left of deep square leg. Kamil Pooran comes charging across, slides but lets it through. Chase is not pleased with that sloppy effort.

Around off, on a shorter length, Nitish rocks back and cuts it to the right of deep backward point for a couple of runs.

Comes from around the stumps and darts it on a length, Tilak tucks it off the pads to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sliding in, short on leg, Reddy knocks it off the back foot to long on for a single.

Drops it full and on middle, Reddy flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Another successful over for West Indies. A wicket and 11 runs from it.

Nitish Kumar Reddy walks in next. Ian Bishop explains that Shamar Springer's wicket celebration was a tribute to his mother, who passed away earlier this year. He adds that Springer's mother was a big fan of the Indian team, with India being her second-favourite side after, of course, the West Indies.

OUT! CAUGHT! West Indies keep chipping away at the wickets. Motie dangles the carrot by floating one up, fuller and around off. Naman Dhir reaches out and tries to loft it over long off, but ends up badly mistiming it straight down the throat of the fielder stationed at long off. Shamar Springer takes a simple, straightforward catch there with a reverse cup over his right shoulder. Dhir falls and India are 135/5 in 10.5 overs.

On a fuller length on leg, sliding in. Naman Dhir flicks it between deep mid-wicket and long on. A slight miscommunication between Powell and Hetmyer allows the batters a couple of runs.

SIX! Incredible hit! Not all that short by Motie, on the leg stump. Naman Dhir opens his stance and swings it powerfully behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.

Fuller on leg, Tilak clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller and drifting into the batter, Dhir leans forward and pushes it to long on for a single.

Halfway through the first innings. India are 125/4. Usually, you expect the score to double from here, but with wickets having fallen in a cluster and West Indies fighting back, that is far from a given. Gudakesh Motie returns to the attack.

Slower one, floated up on off. Dhir leans into the drive and caresses it to deep cover for a single.

Drinks Break! 115/1 becomes 124/4 for the Men in Blue. This has been a fantastic comeback from the tourists, engineered by Roston Chase. With the way Abhishek and Kishan were batting, it looked like India would easily cruise to 200 or far more than that, but those three quick wickets, including Abhishek's, have put the middle order under test. With two new batters at the crease, West Indies would look to squeeze in a few quiet overs to stall the momentum. India, on the other hand, are forced to reconstruct again with Naman Dhir in at number 6.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Shamar Springer gets the big fish. What a productive phase in the game this is turning out to be for West Indies. Springer drags his length back, and this is bowled at 122.2 kph. Sharma swings across for the pull but ends up slicing it high in the air beside the strip on the leg side. Springer moves forward on his follow-through and gobbles it up. He celebrates the wicket by signalling 24 with his fingers, though what it means is anyone's guess.

Sharma walks across to the off side to counter the wide line. Springer dishes out a full toss, on off. Sharma can't cash in and just knocks it to mid on.

Wide! Springer bowls the off-pace delivery, fuller but beyond the tramline. Abhishek makes the leave.

Angled away, on a back of a length. Varma taps it wide of extra cover for a single.

FOUR! Crunched! Springer takes pace off and keeps it near the tramline, on a length. Varma waits for the ball to arrive, reaches out and drills it to the left of the man at a deep extra cover for a boundary to get going.

Begins with a full ball, almost in the blockhole, on off. Sharma slams it to deep cover for a single.

Shamar Springer returns to the attack. He conceded 21 runs in his only over so far. He replaces Gudakesh Motie.

From around the wicket now, flatter and on a good length. Varma makes room and punches it to cover.

A double whammy by Chase. The bowling change has worked wonders for West Indies. In walks Tilak Varma at number 5.

OUT! LBW! A confident shout and the finger is raised. That looks pretty straight, but Shreyas Iyer has taken the review. Chase slows it down nicely and is not afraid to toss it up, on off and middle. Iyer clears the front leg, puts his head down and has a heave across the line. The ball spins back in enough to go past the inside edge and catches Iyer on the crouched back leg. No bat involved and on Ball Tracking, the impact is umpire's call and the ball is hitting the middle stump. The on-field call is upheld. India keep the review but lose their captain. Two wickets in the over for Chase, just what the doctor ordered for Windies. India are now 3 down for 117.

Flat and short, on leg. Sharma knocks it to wide long on and crosses over.

Around off, on a good length. Iyer punches it to long off for a single to open his account.

Pin-drop silence in Indore as Kishan trudges off. Smart and slick glovework by Hope. But that silence doesn't last long as Shreyas Iyer walks in at number 4.

OUT! STUMPED! Roston Chase answers right back. Chase anticipates that Ishan would give him the charge, so he pushes this through and pulls the length back, angling it towards the left-hander. Kishan dances down the track but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. It skids through to go past the inside edge. Shai Hope moves to his right and gathers the ball cleanly before breaking the stumps in a flash. Kishan tries to plonk his back leg inside the crease but can't get back in quick enough. A much-needed breakthrough for the Men in Maroon as the 108-run stand has been broken.

SIX! Welcomed back with a biggie. Chase tosses it up, on middle. Kishan shimmies down the track and reaches the pitch of the ball. Tonks it back over the bowler's head as the ball clatters into the sight screen.

Fuller and quicker, outside off. Kishan goes hard on the cut but the ball is not short enough for the cut. It catches the bottom edge and bounces onto the keeper's helmet before dribbling towards short fine leg. A single taken. A decent comeback by Motie after being hit for a six earlier in the over.

Wide! Fired beyond the tramline. Kishan lets it go.

Stays on the shorter side, outside off. Sharma has a swing at it but miscues it down to long on for a single. The 100-run stand comes up between these two batters.

Across the left-hander, fractionally short. Sharma reaches out and flashes but the ball skids through to go under the blade.

SIX! Up, up and away! Motie tries to dart in a full ball, but ends up dishing out a full toss, on the pads. Abhishek does not miss out as he picks it up behind square leg for half a dozen.

Down leg, not all that short, Kishan gets down on a knee and swivels to shovel it behind square leg. Toe-ends it beside the strip on the leg side. They cross. With this single, the 100 comes up for India in 7.2 overs.

Pushed across off from around the wicket, on a length. Sharma clears the front leg and smears it away towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Gudakesh Motie is introduced into the attack. He replaces Shamar Joseph.

In the blockhole, on middle. Abhishek gets the front leg out of the way and stabs it down. The ball bounces over the leaping bowler and the batters cross for one.

10 runs off the over so far, with a ball to go. A relatively quiet over given the mayhem before.

Wide! Sprayed down leg with fine leg up inside the circle. Sharma swings but fails to pick it up. Abhishek will feel that he missed out on a boundary opportunity.

Gets the yorker in now, on off. Abhishek jams it out to extra cover.

FOUR! Clever, very clever! Low full toss, on off. Sharma just uses the pace of the ball and opens the bat face ot steer it past backward point, leaving the man in the deep with no chance.

Run out chance! Really full, on off. Kishan digs it out wide of cover and hurries to the other end. Quentin Sampson is quick to get to the ball and has a shy at the bowling end but misses. A direct hit could have been interesting, as Ishan had to put in a desperate dive to get home.

FOUR! Swatted away. Pace taken off, on a back of a length, near the tramline. Kishan reaches out and slams it like a tennis forehand. The umpire is in the firing line but he gets out of the way quickly as the ball races down the ground.

Nails the yorker, on off. Kishan squeezes it out to backward point. A dot, which is a rarity in this game so far.

11/1 in the first two overs, followed by 76 in the next 4 to wrap up the Powerplay. Absolute carnage. Once again, the bowlers are under the pump on a beautiful batting wicket. As the field spreads, Keemo Paul (1-0-15-0) is back on. He replaces Shamar Springer.

FOUR! Excellent manipulation of the field. Joseph spots Abhishek backing away and he follows him with a really full ball. Sharma takes the ball on the full and opens the bat face to thread the gap between short third and backward point for yet another boundary. Back-to-back 21-run overs to close out the Powerplay.

FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA, his 14th in T20Is. After a couple of quiet games by his standards, the normal service has resumed for the southpaw. Skidding through, on a back of a length. Abhishek swivels and tugs it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs to bring up an 18-ball half-century.

FOUR! In the gap. Joseph goes searching for the yorker but it ends up being a low full toss, on middle and leg. Sharma hangs low and just chips it in the gap between mid-wicket and mid on and the outfield does the rest.

SIX! High and handsome. Joseph angles across a full ball. Sharma stays rooted to the crease and holds his shape. He presents the full face of the bat and with a high elbow, he launches it over mid off for half a dozen.

Tighter line and fuller as well, on middle and leg. Kishan eases it in front of mid on for a single.

FOUR! That has rocketed to the fence. Short and wide on off, begging to be hit. Kishan obliges as he frees his arms and spanks it past point for a boundary.

Shamar Joseph returns to the attack.

SIX! INTO THE CROWD! 21 runs from Springer's first over and India are marching on after a quiet start. A back-of-a-length delivery, angling outside off, Abhishek Sharma stands tall and sends it sailing into the crowd behind deep cover. This is ball striking of the highest order. And with that hit, Abhishek completes 2000 T20I runs. He becomes the fastest batter to get to this landmark (in terms of balls faced), bettering former Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.

FOUR! Even better and that brings up the 50-run partnership between Abhishek and Kishan. Another full delivery, into the slot, outside off. Sharma clears the in-field by hammering it over covers for a boundary.

FOUR! Wallop! A long half-volley, on off, Abhishek Sharma stays put, and powerfully lofts it over extra cover and mid off for a boundary.

On a back of a length, around off. Kishan waits back and cuts it in front of square towards deep point for a single.

WIDE! Pushes it far outside the tramline on the off side. Kishan leaves.

FOUR! Ishan is looking in a no-nonsense mood. 50 up for India in just 4.2 overs. Springer bowls a loose ball, outside the off stump on a good length. A lot of width on offer and Kishan pounces on it by cutting it hard through the cover and point gap for a boundary.

Starts from over the stumps. Attacks the pads, on a length, Sharma steers it off the back foot to the left of deep mid-wicket for a single.

A double change as Shamar Springer comes on to bowl.

FOUR! That's a commanding shot! On the fuller side, angling outside off, Ishan Kishan hits it through the line, smacking it over the leaping mid off fielder for a boundary. 16 runs off the over, 34 from the last two for India.

Rifles it fuller, outside leg, Abhishek Sharma tries to play the pick-up shot to loft it over the leg side, but misses and he is hit on the front pad. They get a leg bye as the ball rolls wide of point.

Nails the yorker, on off, Sharma jams the bat down and jabs it to the right of point. Chase there, dives but fumbles and the ball seeps through to the deep for a couple of runs.

Wide outside off, on a length, Ishan slashes it hard to deep backward point for a single.

FOUR! One bounce and into the fence! Fuller than a length now, on off, Ishan Kishan clears the front leg and clubs it over mid on for a boundary. Ishan is on the charge.

FOUR! Onto it in a flash! Short of a length, on middle and leg. Ishan picks the length early, and with lightning-quick hands, he pulls it flat and over square leg. The replay shows that the ball has landed just before the ropes, so it is a boundary.

Interesting. Despite striking in his first over, Shamar Joseph has been taken out of the attack. Keemo Paul replaces him.

SIX! Goes the distance! Juicy half-volley on the stumps. Inviting trouble and Abhishek shuffles to the leg side before marvellously lofting it over deep point for a six. A massive over as 18 runs come off it.

Darts it fuller, outside leg, Abhishek Sharma tickles it to short fine leg. He sniffs a single but is sent back in time by Ishan.

SIX! Wonderful hit! Chase slows it up this time, at 86.9 kph, full on the stumps. Sharma again backs away by exposing his stumps, and this time, he launches it inside-out over deep extra cover for a biggie.

FOUR! There's the jailbreak moment for Abhishek. Too full and quick by Chase, on middle and leg. Abhishek backs away to create room and smashes it through cover-point for a cracking boundary.

Pitched full on leg, Ishan turns it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single to get off the mark.

Slower through the air, full on off, Abhishek Sharma drives it firmly to long off for a single.

Fuller and outside off, Kishan carves it powerfully to mid off. Exceptional start from Joseph. A wicket and just 7 runs from it.

FOUR BYES! Neither the batter nor the keeper had any idea. Fast and furious from Shamar. On a length, around off, nipping away with bounce. Ishan fiddles at it, dangling the bat loosely away from his body, but gets beaten. Shai Hope moves to his left and tries to grab it around his left knee, but can't collect it cleanly, and it is parried away to the ropes behind.

Early success for the West Indies. Ishan Kishan walks in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal. Shamar Joseph provides a massive breakthrough to West Indies. Joseph cannons a full-length delivery that shapes in slightly, on middle and leg. Samson tries to flick across to the leg side, but the bat twists at the point of contact and shoots flat to the right of Kamil Pooran at mid-wicket. A simple catch, and Samson falls cheaply this time. India are 7/1.

Slightly fuller than a length, on off, stays low a touch. Sharma looks to access the off side but the ball squirts off the inside half of the bat and trickles towards mid on for a single.

Hammers it on a length, angling into the batter. Samson lets the ball tail and tucks it to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Around off on a good length, Sharma tries to punch it off the back foot but gets a fat inside edge and the ball rolls to widish square leg for a single.

A tidy first over by Roston Chase. Shamar Joseph will steam in from the other end. Chase has walked off the field to receive medical attention for his hand, with Jewel Andrew coming on as his substitute.

Chance? Don't think so! Full and flat, on middle and leg. Sanju moves leg side and hammers it on the bounce to the bowler. Chase bends low on the follow-through, makes a half-stop and the ball deflects to mid off. Just 4 singles off the first over.

Misses out! Chase darts in a full toss, on leg, Samson cannot quite get under it and bumps it back to the bowler. Chase leaps a bit and plucks the ball with his right hand on the follow-through.

Dishes out an off-break, full on off, Sharma presents full face of his bat and drives it to long off for another single.

Pushed through, full on leg, Samson lunges and clips it through mid on for one more.

Continues from over the stumps, and bowls a length ball on off, Abhishek goes deep in the crease and knocks it along the ground to long off's left for a single to open his account.

Drops it short on the leg stump, further drifting in. Samson backs away and punches it to the left of mid off for a single. India and Sanju are off the mark.

The bell has been rung, and it is time for Sunday's dose of cricketing entertainment to get underway in Indore. Shai Hope leads his men out to the centre. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson to open the innings for India. West Indies are starting with spin through Roston Chase. Samson to face the first ball. Here we go!

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

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

The Indian captain - Shreyas Iyer says the dew played a massive role in the previous game, but he was pleased with the cricket his side played. He feels the bowlers fell a little short of their plans, though that can happen on any given day, and the focus now is to forget it and come in with a fresh mindset. The toss is out of their hands, he adds, but as professionals, they need to bring their A game every time they step onto the field and help the team get across the line. On the team's batting approach, he stresses the importance of reading and adapting to the surface as quickly as possible, since there is never a telling how it will play on a given day. Says the faster the batters adjust, the easier it becomes to put up a very competitive total. About the team changes, he informs that they have got two changes, with Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav making way for Nitish Kumar Reddy and Prince Yadav. On the reason behind the changes, Iyer points to the dimensions of the ground and the need for an extra seamer, someone who can execute the crucial overs under pressure and help curb the opposition's boundary hitting. On the team's catching, he admits better catching is on the agenda, but sees brilliant catches being taken here and there as part and parcel of the game. His priority is for the side to stay fully involved in the contest rather than fret over dropped chances.

The captain of West Indies - Shai Hope opts to bowl first, adding that everyone knew what his decision would be after winning the toss. On the challenge of playing all three formats, Hope admits it can be demanding, but says that once he crosses the boundary, his focus is on putting his best foot forward. Mentions that it is about learning as quickly as possible in these conditions and applying those lessons on the field. Hope also stresses the importance of taking catches, noting that they can be decisive in determining the outcome of games. He acknowledges that fielding is an area they need to improve. Informs that Romario Shepherd has a slight niggle and has been rested, with Keemo Paul coming into the side and Akeal Hosein making way for Quentin Sampson.

TOSS - It's coming down to toss time in Indore. Both captains - Shreyas Iyer and Shai Hope - the two centurions of the series so far, are out in the middle. Ian Bishop leads the proceedings. Iyer gives it a flick. Heads is the call from Hope, and he calls it right. West Indies have elected to BOWL first.

In conversation with Tilak Varma - Tilak shares that God has been really kind to him and that he feels he is in good form. He admits that West Indies played terrifically in Ranchi, but as a team, the focus is on doing the basics right. He says the coach has told them that every batter needs to be flexible. Batting up the order is his strength, but since the World Cup, he has become accustomed to batting lower down, and he has been working on the finishing role both mentally and in the nets.

PITCH REPORT - Daren Ganga is near the deck and informs us that the centre wicket will be used. He jokes that the bowlers should look away as he runs through the dimensions - 63 metres square on either side and 72 metres down the ground. He adds that there have been four previous T20Is at this venue, and the average first-innings score is 200. Abhinav Mukund joins him and says that the pitch looks very native to these conditions and is hard underneath. He mentions that it is a nicely rolled surface, and points out a patch of grass, but explains that it is there more to hold the surface together. Mukund informs us that, even though an anti-dew agent has been sprayed across the outfield, some dew is still expected. He recalls that there was dew the day before yesterday, but not too much yesterday, and he expects the trend of chasing sides winning in this series to continue.

Where do the bowlers go? That's the question circling for anyone who aspires to be a bowler. On a serious note, the numbers are particularly worrying for India, whose bowlers could not defend 405 in the ODI earlier on and then failed to protect 249 in the last T20I. West Indies have not exactly cracked the code with the ball either. They have picked up just seven wickets in two games, and their bowling has come under the scanner in every phase. Both sides will be desperate to tighten the screws with the ball this time. With the festive season getting underway in India, will Indore offer any relief to the men with the ball, or is it set to be another night of fireworks? We will find out soon enough, as the toss and team news are up next, so stay tuned.

Another run fest loading - T20I cricket returns to Indore after two and a half years. And things are unlikely to get easier for the bowlers here, at a venue where boundaries are notoriously short, the track is expectedly flat, and the runs are in the offing. The series has already seen two centurions in two games, Shreyas Iyer and Shai Hope, and dare we say, Indore looks tailor-made for a third. The numbers back it up, with 200 crossed twice in four T20Is played at this venue so far. Both times, though, it was the side defending that came out on top. This series tells a different story, with every game so far, ODIs included, going to the team batting second. Will that pattern hold, or will Indore bring a twist?

Bowlers beware! The caravan rolls into Indore, and the bowlers will not like the road signs. This series has been all about the batters so far. Lucknow was won by the hosts in commanding fashion, before Ranchi saw the Men in Maroon strike back in the most ruthless fashion, chasing down 250, their highest successful chase in T20Is. With the series locked in and hanging in the balance at 1-1, both sides will be desperate to take the lead. On that note, hello and welcome to the third T20I between India and West Indies from the Holkar Stadium.

... MATCH DAY ...

All square - From a Ranchi night that produced a chase for the history books, the series now rolls into Indore. After a one-sided opener in Lucknow, West Indies have made it clear they are not here to make up the numbers. They hunted down 250, the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20I history and their own best in the format, and with three games still to play, we now have a proper contest on our hands. Firepower in abundance - India have the firepower to match anyone. Shreyas Iyer, who has taken his captaincy through a rough start, found his best at the right time with a maiden T20I hundred in Lucknow, and he followed it with a quickfire cameo in Ranchi. Sanju Samson answered his critics with a blistering knock, and Tilak Varma finished the innings in style. In Lucknow, West Indies’ two spinners were the ones to break the top order, and that is the one soft spot in a line-up that otherwise has an answer for everything. Depth also matters here, with Shivam Dube and Axar Patel to follow, which lets the top 6 play with freedom. The think tank’s call - India’s spinners won Lucknow on a surface with some help, but on a flat pitch with dew that edge fades, and Rutherford has already shown he can attack Axar. With so much batting, India can afford to trade one slot for another seamer, and the choice between sticking with the same XI and adding pace is the one the think tank has to make, with Prince Yadav, the specialist pace option, waiting on the bench. Beyond Hope and Rutherford - West Indies have found a formula but not yet a structure. Both T20Is have followed the same script, with the top order losing wickets early and the innings then being carried by Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford. In Ranchi that partnership turned a chase of 250 into a procession, but in Lucknow the same pair gave way, and the innings fell apart soon after. They can’t rely so heavily on Hope and Rutherford, and will need the likes of Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer to come to the party. Kamil Pooran arrived on the back of his CPL heroics but has not translated that to the international stage. It remains to be seen how long West Indies wait before bringing in Amir Jangoo, who has been in fine ODI form, if Pooran does not turn up. The bowling worry - The concern lies with the ball and in the field. Yes, conditions have not had much to offer the bowlers, but apart from Roston Chase, the others have struggled to contain the scoring. West Indies went in with Gudakesh Motie as an extra spinner, but they may have to shed that option, with Indore unlikely to have much on offer for the slower men. Bringing back Matthew Forde or even Keemo Paul is an option. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - IND - LWWWW | WI - WLWLW. What to expect? The Holkar Cricket Stadium has a reputation for being batter-friendly, with short boundaries, and the practice pitches in the outfield also play a part. With the possibility of dew, once again chasing will be the way to go, so whichever captain wins the toss will likely bowl first. Expect fireworks aplenty, with the bowlers having to toil hard to be spared the punishment.