India recovered from their disappointing loss in Ranchi with a disciplined bowling display to defeat the West Indies by 14 runs in the fourth T20I at Indore’s Holkar Stadium on Sunday. Defending a target of 224, the hosts restricted the visitors to 209 for 7, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
India had failed to defend 250 in Ranchi, where Shai Hope’s unbeaten century guided the West Indies to a remarkable chase. This time, the hosts responded with a stronger bowling effort, combining early wickets with crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs and accurate execution towards the end.
India made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy for Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav. Both players contributed significantly, with Nitish breaking a dangerous partnership and Prince maintaining control during the closing stages.
Arshdeep Singh spearheaded the attack with three wickets, while Naman Dhir claimed two. Axar Patel and Nitish picked up one wicket each as India successfully defended their total on a surface conducive to batting.
ABHISHEK AND KISHAN POWER INDIA
India’s innings featured an explosive start, although a middle-order collapse prevented the hosts from building an even bigger total.
Sanju Samson managed just three runs off six balls before Kamil Pooran caught him at short midwicket off Shamar Joseph in the second over. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan then counterattacked with an aggressive partnership that put India on course for a formidable score.
The duo added 108 runs for the second wicket, regularly finding boundaries and putting the West Indies bowlers under pressure. India reached 100 in just 7.2 overs, with their scoring rate indicating that a total above 250 was a realistic possibility.
Abhishek was particularly destructive, reaching his half-century in only 18 balls. He continued his attacking approach before being dismissed for 69 off 30 deliveries, an innings featuring six fours and five sixes.
Kishan provided equally aggressive support, scoring 37 from 18 balls with six fours and a six. Their partnership put India in a commanding position before Shamar Springer broke through in the 10th over.
MIDDLE-ORDER COLLAPSE HAMPERS INDIA
Springer ended Abhishek’s innings with a short delivery around middle and leg. The batter attempted a pull shot but managed only a top edge, allowing the bowler to take the catch himself.
Kishan was dismissed soon afterwards by Roston Chase. The off-spinner bowled a length delivery that went straight on as Kishan advanced down the pitch. Misjudging the length, the batter missed his attempted shot across the line, enabling wicketkeeper Shai Hope to complete the stumping.
Chase struck again by trapping India captain Shreyas Iyer lbw for one, leaving the hosts in need of a partnership to regain momentum.
Naman Dhir scored a quick 10 before being caught by Springer, while Nitish Kumar Reddy made 21 off 14 balls before edging a delivery down the leg side to Hope. The regular fall of wickets slowed India’s progress after their explosive start.
Tilak Varma and Axar Patel tried to stabilise the innings, but their dismissals further disrupted the hosts. Tilak was run out for 28 off 16 balls in an unusual incident after failing to realise that the ball remained in play following Axar’s shot towards deep square leg.
Axar was later run out for 20 following a mix-up with Arshdeep, who had ventured too far down the pitch. India eventually finished at 223 in their allotted 20 overs. Prince added some late impetus by hitting three fours in the final over, before Joseph bowled Mayank Yadav with the last delivery to end the innings.
Chase, Joseph and Springer took two wickets each for the West Indies. Chase’s timely breakthroughs were particularly influential in preventing India from turning their excellent start into a much larger total.
ARSHDEEP DISMISSES HOPE EARLY
The West Indies began their chase knowing that the pitch offered favourable conditions for batting. However, India ensured the visitors could not settle into their innings as comfortably as they had in Ranchi.
Arshdeep delivered a crucial early breakthrough by dismissing Hope for five in the second over. The West Indies captain, who had scored an unbeaten 102 in the previous match, attempted an attacking shot but was bowled, giving India an immediate boost.
The early dismissal did not completely derail the visitors’ chase, as Shimron Hetmyer and Kamil Pooran mounted an aggressive response. Their 60-run partnership kept the required rate within reach and threatened to put India’s bowlers under pressure.
Hetmyer scored 43 off 26 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, while Pooran contributed 42 from 27 deliveries. Their attacking approach briefly shifted the momentum towards the West Indies, with the partnership threatening to recreate the difficulties India had faced in Ranchi.
Naman Dhir then changed the course of the contest by dismissing both well-set batters. Hetmyer’s departure ended the partnership, while Pooran’s wicket left the visitors needing another substantial stand.
Axar strengthened India’s position by removing Rovman Powell for five. The West Indies continued to lose wickets at important moments, allowing India to disrupt their scoring rhythm instead of letting the chase build unstoppable momentum.
NITISH AND PRINCE STEP UP UNDER PRESSURE
Nitish made an important contribution by dismissing Quentin Sampson for 21, with Tilak completing the catch in the deep. The breakthrough came just as Sampson appeared ready to accelerate, further weakening the visitors’ position.
India’s changes to the bowling attack were beginning to pay off. Nitish provided another timely wicket, while Prince bowled with discipline and restricted the West Indies’ opportunities to find easy boundaries in the final overs.
The visitors continued their fight through Sherfane Rutherford, who scored 32 off 20 balls, and Springer. Rutherford kept the chase alive for a while, but Arshdeep returned at a crucial stage to swing the contest firmly in India’s favour.
The left-arm pacer delivered a decisive spell in the 18th over, using accurate yorkers to dismiss both Rutherford and Keemo Paul. The double breakthrough left the West Indies with an increasingly difficult task in the final overs and severely reduced their chances of staging a late comeback.
Springer nevertheless kept the contest alive briefly with an explosive innings. He smashed 35 off just 11 deliveries, raising hopes of an unlikely turnaround through a powerful late assault. However, India’s bowlers had already done enough to put the match beyond the visitors’ reach.
