India snapped a long-running trend of successful chases in the ongoing series by defeating the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. With this result, India has taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, marking the first time throughout the tour—which included three ODIs and two previous T20Is—that a team batting first has emerged victorious. Everything about the evening pointed towards another successful chase. It was a quiet start by India, who went boundary-less off the bat for the first two overs, put in to bat once again.
The hosts set a daunting target of 223, fueled by a brilliant 69-run knock off just 30 deliveries from Abhishek Sharma. He combined with Ishan Kishan for a rapid 108-run partnership off 40 balls, which stands as the fastest century stand for India in T20I history. Despite losing Sanju Samson early to a 150kph Shamar Joseph delivery, the Indian top order capitalized on the stadium’s short 63-metre square boundaries to finish the Powerplay at 87/1. With targets of 406 and 250 among them, and the Holkar Stadium’s square boundaries measured just 63 metres. “We all know what I’m going to do,” WI captain Shai Hope quipped at the toss, choosing to bowl again, but the dew that had soaked Ranchi never really arrived in Indore, the chasing side had won all three ODIs and both T20Is so far. Mistiming a 150kph full ball from Shamar Joseph to mid-wicket, before Hope took Joseph off and India pounced on everyone from then on, sanju Samson fell for 3. And India finished the Powerplay at 87/1, abhishek reached an 18-ball fifty in a 21-run sixth over. The fastest century stand India have ever put together in T20Is, the 108 that Abhishek and Kishan added for the second wicket came at 16.2 an over.
The momentum shifted briefly when Roston Chase dismissed both Kishan and Shreyas Iyer in the ninth over. Abhishek fell shortly after, followed by Naman Dhir, leaving India at 135/5. While the innings saw a few mishaps, including a bizarre run-out involving Tilak Varma and Axar Patel, a late flurry of runs from Prince Yadav in the final over pushed the total to 223. Roston Chase, Shamar Springer, and Shamar Joseph each claimed two wickets for the visitors.
Defending the total, Indian bowlers maintained disciplined lengths on a surface where hitting straight proved difficult. Arshdeep Singh spearheaded the attack, finishing with 3 for 44. He provided the crucial early breakthrough by bowling West Indies captain Shai Hope. Although Shimron Hetmyer scored a brisk 43 off 26 balls, he was removed by Naman Dhir shortly after being dropped by Abhishek. The bowlers were not simply there to be hit, for once on this tour.
As the required run rate climbed, pressure mounted on the West Indies lineup. Rovman Powell was dismissed by Axar Patel, and Kamil Pooran, despite hitting three sixes off Naman Dhir, eventually found Arshdeep in the deep while looking for another boundary, departing for 42. Sherfane Rutherford and Quentin Sampson attempted a recovery with a 46-run stand, but the game was effectively sealed when Arshdeep returned to remove both Paul and Rutherford in the same over.
Shamar Springer struck three sixes off Axar Patel in the final over, but the visitors were ultimately limited to 209/7. The victory broke the psychological dominance of the chasing side, as the Indian bowling unit successfully managed the conditions in Indore to protect their first-innings total.
