Lucknow: Shreyas Iyer smashed his maiden T20I century as India defeated West Indies by eight wickets in the first match of the five-game series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 6.
Chasing 172 after West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs, India raced to 172/2 in just 14.4 overs. Iyer remained unbeaten on 102 from 43 balls, while Ishan Kishan supported him with an unbeaten 37 as India began the series with a dominant victory.
The victory came only days after India’s Asian Games campaign, where the team won the men’s cricket gold medal. Despite the short turnaround, India produced a commanding performance in Lucknow.
West Indies post 171 despite two half-centuries
India won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting West Indies under early pressure.
The visitors lost three wickets inside the powerplay and were reduced to 44/3. Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford then attempted to rebuild the innings with half-centuries.
Hope scored 52, while Rutherford made 56, but the pair did not receive sufficient support from the lower order. India’s bowlers continued to take wickets at regular intervals and eventually dismissed West Indies for 171 in 19.1 overs.
Naman Dhir, making his T20I debut, was among India’s most effective bowlers. He claimed three wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each. Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav also contributed with wickets.
The disciplined bowling effort ensured that West Indies could not turn their promising middle-overs recovery into a total beyond 171.
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson fall early
India’s chase did not begin smoothly.
Abhishek Sharma, one of India’s opening options, was dismissed for 21, while Sanju Samson departed for 11. The early wickets briefly gave West Indies an opportunity to put pressure on the hosts.
However, Iyer walked in and immediately took control of the chase.
He combined with Ishan Kishan to completely change the momentum of the innings. The pair attacked the West Indies bowling and kept the required run rate comfortably under control.
Iyer’s innings eventually became the defining performance of the match.
Iyer produces a spectacular century
Iyer completed his maiden T20I century in spectacular fashion. He reached the milestone in 42 balls and finished unbeaten on 102 from 43 deliveries, with 10 fours and six sixes.
His century also placed him among the fastest T20I centurions by captains from full-member teams. His 42-ball hundred matched Harry Brook’s 2026 mark in the list provided by the match report.
The knock was particularly significant because Iyer was leading India in the series. He had also captained the Indian side during its successful Asian Games campaign in Japan.
With Iyer attacking almost every West Indies bowler, India’s target quickly came within reach. Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 37 and provided valuable support during the 137-run partnership that took the hosts to victory.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi misses out
One of the major talking points before the match was whether 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would make his T20I debut.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the young batter, Sooryavanshi was not included in India’s playing XI. Naman Dhir instead made his T20I debut.
Sooryavanshi’s omission had been one of the key selection questions ahead of the opening match, particularly after India returned from its Asian Games gold-medal campaign.
The five-match series provides India with an opportunity to assess several players ahead of the team’s long-term T20 plans. The selection of the young Sooryavanshi could therefore remain a major talking point as the series progresses.
India take 1-0 lead
India’s victory was achieved with 32 balls to spare, underlining the gap between the two sides on the night. West Indies had moments of promise through Hope and Rutherford, but India’s bowling attack prevented them from building a bigger total.
The chase then belonged almost entirely to Iyer, whose explosive century ensured there was little late drama.
For India, the win also continued the momentum from their Asian Games success. The team had returned home only shortly before the opening T20I but quickly adapted to the conditions in Lucknow.
For Iyer, the match was even more significant. His unbeaten 102 was his first T20I century and came while leading the side, making it a memorable individual performance.
Second T20I scheduled in Ranchi
India now lead the five-match series 1-0. The second T20I will be played in Ranchi on October 9, followed by matches in Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
India will look to build on its opening victory, while West Indies will aim to respond strongly after being outplayed in both departments in Lucknow.
The opening match has also given India several positives, including Naman Dhir’s three-wicket debut, a strong bowling performance and Iyer’s remarkable hundred. The question of when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets his opportunity will remain one of the major storylines as the series moves forward.