Abhishek’s Blitz and India’s Collapse

West Indies won the toss and elected to field, hoping to exploit any early morning moisture. That decision looked questionable as Abhishek Sharma launched into the West Indies attack from the very first over. He smashed Shamar Springer for two fours and a six in the second over, racing to his fifty off just 18 balls — the fastest by an Indian against West Indies.Source: News18

Abhishek’s 69 off 30 balls, studded with six fours and five sixes, also saw him become the fastest batter to 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced (1,024), breaking Suryakumar Yadav’s record (1,164). He shared a 108-run second-wicket partnership with Ishan Kishan (37 off 18), which is now the highest second-wicket stand for India against West Indies in T20Is.Source: Crex

However, Abhishek’s dismissal in the 10th over triggered a collapse. Shreyas Iyer (1) fell to Roston Chase, and then came the moment that shocked everyone — Tilak Varma was run out for 28 after a horrendous mix-up with Axar Patel. Both batters thought Kamil Pooran had stopped the ball near the boundary, and by the time they realised the ball was still in play, Tilak was caught short.Source: Outlook India

India lost their last 9 wickets for just 108 runs, eventually being bowled out for 223 on the last ball of the innings. Roston Chase (2/38), Shamar Joseph (2/54), and Shamar Springer (2/41) were the pick of the West Indies bowlers.Source: ABP Live

West Indies’ Chase – Pooran’s Fightback

Chasing 224, West Indies lost Shai Hope early, but Kamil Pooran kept them in the hunt with a blistering 42 off 27 balls. He smashed three fours and three sixes, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers.Source: Sportstar

Naman Dhir then struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Pooran and Rovman Powell to put India back in control. Shimron Hetmyer (31) and Sherfane Rutherford (23) tried to rebuild, but Arshdeep Singh produced a double strike in the 15th over, dismissing both set batters to effectively seal the game.Source: Outlook India

Quentin Sampson (27) and Keemo Paul (17) provided some late resistance, but India’s bowlers held their nerve in the death overs. Arshdeep finished with 3/36, his best figures of the series, while Naman Dhir (2/38) and Axar Patel (1/36) provided excellent support.Source: Sportstar

Abhishek Sharma produced a match-winning innings, smashing 69 off just 30 balls with six fours and five sixes. His 18-ball fifty was the fastest by an Indian against West Indies in T20Is. More significantly, he became the fastest batter to 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced (1,024), breaking Suryakumar Yadav’s record (1,164). He also completed 1,000 T20I runs in 2026 during this innings, becoming the first Indian to achieve that feat.Source: News18

Arshdeep Singh bounced back from a poor start to the series with a match-winning spell of 3/36. He dismissed Shai Hope early, then returned in the death overs to remove Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul in quick succession. His double strike in the 15th over broke West Indies’ back.Source: Outlook India

The off-spinning all-rounder was the surprise package, dismissing the dangerous Kamil Pooran (42) and Rovman Powell in the same over. His double strike in the 10th over pegged West Indies back after they had raced to 96/1.Source: Sportstar

Pooran was West Indies’ most aggressive batter, smashing 42 off 27 balls with three fours and three sixes. He took the attack to the Indian bowlers and kept West Indies in the hunt before falling to Naman Dhir.Source: Sportstar