India secured a critical 14-run victory over the West Indies in the third T20I at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday, moving ahead 2-1 in their five-match series. India successfully defended a total of 223, marking the first time in the current white-ball series that a team batting first has emerged victorious on a dew-free night.
Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer with the bat, setting the foundation with a blistering 69 off just 30 balls. During this innings, he achieved a milestone by becoming the fastest player to reach 2,000 T20I runs, requiring only 1,024 balls. Supported by Ishan Kishan, the pair built an aggressive 108-run partnership that at one stage threatened to push the total toward 250. However, India experienced a mid-innings collapse, losing wickets to soft dismissals and mix-ups, which restricted their final score to 223. Previously, Abhishek’s blistering fifty, laced with six fours and five sixes, as well as an aggressive 108-run stand with Ishan Kishan had India on course for a score close to 250. A pull to the right of deep mid-wicket fetched him two runs to complete his 14th T20I fifty off 18 balls.
India’s early batting phase began cautiously after Roston Chase kept the opening over to four runs, and Shamar Joseph dismissed Sanju Samson for three in the second over with a delivery clocked at 150.8 kmph. Abhishek transformed the momentum in the third over against Chase, hitting two consecutive sixes and a boundary. The assault continued through the powerplay; Kishan struck boundaries against Keemo Paul, while Abhishek dominated the fifth over by hitting three consecutive boundaries, leading to an 87/1 score after the first six overs.
The West Indies’ response started with Mayank Yadav bowling a tight opening over. Arshdeep Singh soon dismissed the in-form Shai Hope, but Shimron Hetmyer countered by taking 19 runs off Arshdeep’s next over, following a dropped catch by Abhishek at short third man. Despite this momentum, West Indies struggled to keep pace, reaching 54/1 at the end of the powerplay. Hetmyer eventually fell for 43 after hitting Naman Dhir for a four and a six, before a slower delivery skidded on to bowl him. Arshdeep, who took out in-form Shai Hope, along with others ensured that the West Indies big-hitters couldn’t ace a second chase on the trot. With Mayank and Prince leaking runs, West Indies reached 54/1 at the end of the Powerplay, 33 runs behind India’s 87/1 at the same stage. A chip over point for four by Kishan was followed by Abhishek lofting two successive balls over cover for four before slamming a length delivery over the same region for six, as 21 runs came off it.
Middle-order instability plagued the tourists, as Rovman Powell was dismissed by Axar Patel for five. Kamil Pooran attempted to rescue the chase with 42 runs, striking three sixes off Dhir, but was eventually caught in the deep while attempting a similar shot. While Sherfane Rutherford and Quention Sampson provided some resistance, the required run rate remained insurmountable. But couldn’t get under the ball and holed out in the deep for 42, but Dhir had the last laugh as Pooran tried the same pick-up shot.
Arshdeep Singh proved pivotal in the death overs, dismissing both Paul and Rutherford within four balls of the 18th over to effectively end the West Indies’ chances. Although Shamar Springer provided a late scare with an 11-ball 35—smashing three sixes and a four off the final over from Axar—the visitors finished short at 209/7. Arshdeep finished with impressive figures of 3-44, while Naman Dhir claimed two wickets to seal the win.
