India Faces Setback Against West Indies in Thrilling T20I Showdown

In a gripping fourth T20I, India faced a 23-run defeat against the West Indies, leveling the series at 2-2. Captain Shreyas Iyer highlighted the team's struggles with execution, particularly in bowling, as they chased a challenging target of 248 runs. Shai Hope's century and Keemo Paul's five-wicket haul were pivotal in the Windies' victory. With the series now tied, the upcoming decider in Bengaluru promises to be an exciting showdown. Read on for a detailed analysis of the match and insights from Iyer on the team's performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 15, 2026, 01:44 IST

India's Struggles in Fourth T20I Against West Indies

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 15: After a challenging run chase, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer reflected on his team's performance following their defeat to the West Indies in the fourth T20I. He noted that the players struggled to maintain their line and length, while the Windies capitalized on the pitch conditions during the slower middle overs.

Shai Hope's impressive fourth century of the series, combined with Keemo Paul's five-wicket haul, secured a 23-run victory for the West Indies, successfully defending a total of 248 runs. This result sets the stage for an exciting series decider in Bengaluru, with the series now tied at 2-2.

India began their innings with a strong fifty from Sanju Samson, but his opening partner, Abhishek Sharma, found it difficult to get on strike early on. The team's momentum shifted after Samson's dismissal, as other batsmen struggled to keep up with the demanding chase.

In the post-match discussion, Iyer emphasized that the bowling performance was a key factor in their loss. He stated, "It started with the bowling. We didn't execute our line lengths effectively, and chasing 250 requires a specific approach. While I appreciated our intent, we fell short in our bowling execution."

When questioned about Abhishek's lack of strike, Iyer responded, "Not really, we were still scoring at 12 runs per over at that point. The West Indies executed their strategy well, and the pitch offered some assistance. Their performance deserves credit."

Iyer acknowledged that the pitch became more favorable for bowlers during the middle overs, with the ball holding up and offering extra bounce.

Looking ahead to the fifth T20I, he expressed optimism, stating, "The upcoming match will be intriguing. Scoring 220 while chasing and then reaching 250 in the second T20I shows our approach and attitude. We need to focus on execution and mindset moving forward."

With this victory, the series is now level at 2-2, setting up an exciting final match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17.

Hope's remarkable innings of 102 not out off 50 balls, featuring four boundaries and nine sixes, marked his fourth century on the tour, including his second in the T20I format. Keemo Paul’s bowling figures of 5 for 41 were crucial, while Shimron Hetmyer (33 off 12 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (49 not out off 26 balls) also played significant roles in their innings, leading to a total of 247/3.

Despite a strong fifty from Sanju Samson (56 off 22 balls), India found themselves in a challenging position. A partnership of 70 runs between Tilak Varma (43 off 25 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 off 20 balls) provided some hope, but their dismissals dimmed India's chances. Arshdeep Singh had to retire hurt in the final over after sustaining an arm injury, leaving India 25 runs short of the target.