Shai Hope Shines with 20th ODI Century Against India

In a thrilling second ODI against India, West Indies captain Shai Hope scored his 20th ODI century, leading his team to a formidable total. His innings of 104 runs, alongside a significant partnership with John Campbell, set the stage for an exciting match. Hope's achievement places him among the elite West Indies batsmen, and his conversation with MS Dhoni has been pivotal in shaping his career. Discover more about Hope's journey and the impact of Dhoni's advice in this detailed article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 30, 2026, 20:58 IST

Shai Hope's Stellar Performance

In the second ODI of the three-match series held at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on September 30, West Indies captain Shai Hope delivered an outstanding performance. He scored 104 runs off 94 balls, hitting 8 fours and 3 sixes, achieving a strike rate of 110.64. His remarkable innings included a pivotal 182-run partnership for the second wicket with John Campbell, who also scored 101 runs, helping the West Indies set a formidable total of 405/7, thereby challenging India with a target of 406 runs.

Milestone Achievement for Shai Hope

This innings marked Shai Hope's 20th century in ODIs, making him the second West Indies player, after Chris Gayle, to reach this milestone in the 50-over format. His achievement places him among the elite Caribbean batsmen, showcasing his leadership and skill on the field.

MS Dhoni's Impact on Shai Hope

As Hope celebrated his 20th ODI century, social media buzzed with clips of his past conversation with MS Dhoni, which significantly influenced his batting approach. After scoring his 16th ODI century against England in 2023, Hope shared a valuable piece of advice from Dhoni that has guided him through challenging times in his career. Hope recalled Dhoni saying, 'You always have a lot more time than you think,' a mantra that has resonated with him throughout his journey in ODI cricket.

Hope remarked, 'A simple piece of advice from a very famous person, MS Dhoni, changed my ODI career completely.'

The Legacy of MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni, renowned for his exceptional captaincy and wicketkeeping skills, is also celebrated for his ability to handle high-pressure run chases. Shai Hope has effectively adopted this trait, becoming a crucial player in the West Indies batting lineup. Dhoni serves as an unofficial mentor to many players during IPL and international matches, sharing his extensive cricketing knowledge and serving as a model of composure for emerging stars.

Shai Hope's ODI Journey

Shai Hope made his ODI debut for the West Indies against Sri Lanka in November 2016, stepping into a team that was in dire need of stability at the top order. Since then, he has evolved into a cornerstone of Caribbean batting.

Following the retirements of legends like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, Hope embraced the responsibility of anchoring innings, proving to be a reliable player in a challenging era for white-ball cricket. He scored his first ODI century against Zimbabwe and has since achieved centuries against 11 different nations, including four against India and three against Bangladesh, highlighting his remarkable consistency.

The Barbadian batsman has recorded two centuries each against England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, and has also reached three figures against South Africa, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, Ireland, Nepal, and New Zealand. His impressive performance in ODIs has rekindled hopes for the West Indies to find a dependable batting anchor.

In total, Shai Hope has accumulated 6,428 runs in ODIs, featuring 20 centuries and 32 fifties, with an average of 50.21 across 157 matches.