Conventional wisdom would’ve predicted an easy win for the defending team, but not against a marauding West Indian batting order with Shai Hope leading from the front on October 9, 2026
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
The Indian juggernaut has finally been halted.
Chasing may be the preferred template in modern T20Is, but not when you have to hunt down 250. That was the tall order in front of the West Indies at the JSCA Stadium on Friday (October 9, 2026).
Conventional wisdom would’ve predicted an easy win for the defending team, but not against a marauding West Indian batting order.
The Men in Maroon made light work of what looked like an insurmountable task, gunning down the target in 18.3 overs and pulling off a stunning six-wicket victory in the second T20I.
After Mayank Yadav’s fiery opening burst (three for 36), Shai Hope (102 n.o., 45b, 6×4, 9×6) and Sherfane Rutherford (84, 37b, 7×4, 7×6) kept up with the asking rate, and then some.
Sherfane Rutherford smashed seven fours and as many sixes in his blistering knock on October 9, 2026
| Photo Credit:
K.R. DEEPAK
Kuldeep Yadav could have removed Rutherford at the halfway stage had Mayank held on to a regulation catch. The left-arm wrist-spinner got his man when the southpaw was caught behind in the 15th over.
At that point, after the breathtaking 120-run stand off 54 deliveries, West Indies still needed 72 off 35 balls. Hope and Romario Shepherd (34 n.o., 13b, 3×4, 3×6) then went on to seal a memorable win.
The two final sixes that Hope hit off Axar Patel not only brought up his century but also signalled West Indies’ highest successful run chase in T20Is.
Earlier, the Indian willow-wielders sent the visitors on a leather hunt to amass 249 for five, with Sanju Samson (82, 41b, 9×4, 4×6) being the protagonist.
Kamil Pooran dropping a straightforward catch straightaway unshackled Samson, who was batting on six.
Sanju Samson made a 41-ball 82 on October 9, 2026
| Photo Credit:
K.R. DEEPAK
After getting smashed off a free-hit right after the lost opportunity, Akeal Hosein bore the brunt of Samson’s brilliant strokeplay.
Though Samson’s trigger movement was almost always to the leg-side, the shots he hit covered the entire ground. Roston Chase — who had earlier dismissed Abhishek Sharma — castled Ishan Kishan (43, 22b, 6×4, 2×6) to break the 97-run stand before removing another left-hander, No. 4 Shivam Dube.
India lost momentum as well as Samson, who holed out to Kamil at third-man off Springer.
Shreyas Iyer (40, 18b, 3×4, 3×6) and Tilak Varma (44 n.o., 18b, 3×4, 3×6), however, built on the foundation.
Tilak was particularly ruthless against Springer after getting a life caught off a no-ball. Springer’s 23-run 20th over took India to 249, which proved nowhere near enough once Hope’s men took strike.
Published – October 09, 2026 11:35 pm IST
