India Leads T20 Series 2-1 After Narrow Win Over West Indies

INDORE, India – Arshdeep Singh and spinner Naman Dhir combined to claim five wickets as India defeated the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20 international on Sunday, moving ahead 2-1 in the five-match series.

Singh finished with figures of 3-44 while Dhir took 2-39, restricting the visitors to 209 for 7 in their chase.

Strong Batting from Abhishek Sharma Powers India

Earlier, Abhishek Sharma struck a quickfire 69 off 30 balls, including five sixes, helping India reach a total of 223 in their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat at Indore.

The West Indies had responded well in the previous match, beating India by six wickets during their highest successful T20 run chase in Ranchi. India had taken the series lead by winning the opener by eight wickets in Lucknow.

Match Progression

India started confidently despite an early loss of Sanju Samson for 3. Sharma blasted five sixes to reach 50 off just 18 balls, guiding India to 87 for 1 in the powerplay. His partnership with Ishan Kishan, who scored 37 off 18 balls including six fours and a six, added 108 runs before Kishan was stumped off Roston Chase’s bowling in the ninth over.

Chase then trapped captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for 1, sparking a mini-collapse where India lost four wickets for 20 runs, leaving them at 135 for 5.

West Indies Struggle Despite Some Resistance

Given West Indies’ strong batting performances earlier in the tour, India's total seemed challenging yet achievable. But the visitors struggled early after losing skipper Shai Hope for just 5, bowled by Singh in the second over. They managed only 54 for 1 in the powerplay overs.

Kamil Pooran (42) and Shimron Hetmyer (43) put together 60 runs off 31 balls, hitting five sixes between them. This forced India to bring in Dhir's offspin, which soon paid off when Hetmyer was bowled in the seventh over. Dhir also dismissed Pooran, while Axar Patel removed Rovman Powell (5), giving Indian spinners three wickets during the middle overs.

Sherfane Rutherford contributed 32 off 20 balls, including two sixes, and added 46 runs with Quentin Sampson (21). Their dismissals left West Indies struggling to keep up.

Shamar Springer scored a rapid 35 not out off 11 balls, hitting three sixes in the final over against Patel, but his efforts were not enough to close the gap.

Next Match

The fourth T20 match will take place in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

• Series score: India leads 2-1
• Third T20 scores: India 223/7, West Indies 209/7
• Top performers: Abhishek Sharma 69 (30 balls), Arshdeep Singh 3-44, Naman Dhir 2-39