West Indies secured a thrilling six-wicket victory over India in Ranchi, chasing down a mammoth 250-run target to level the five-match T20I series at 1-1. The encounter, which produced a total of 501 runs, marked the second-highest match aggregate in men’s T20I history. Shai Hope led the historic pursuit with an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls, supported by Sherfane Rutherford, who smashed 84 off 37 deliveries. Despite India hitting more boundaries, the West Indies’ superior power-hitting, including 20 sixes compared to India’s 13, proved decisive on a dew-affected pitch. Built on Sanju Samson’s 82 and a ferocious finish from Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma, proved too little on a dewy highway in Ranchi as Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102 off 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford’s 84 off 37 turned a chase that began at 5/2 into the second-highest successful run chase in men’s T20Is, and the highest ever by West Indies, india’s massive total of 249/5. But the gap between the sides came down to the big hits, the 501 runs scored on the night made it the second-highest aggregate in men’s T20Is.
India, sent in to bat after losing the toss, posted a formidable 249/5. Sanju Samson anchored the innings with 82, benefiting from dropped catches, while Ishan Kishan contributed a quickfire 43. Though Roston Chase limited India’s momentum with a brilliant 3/24, a late-innings surge from Shreyas Iyer (40 off 18) and Tilak Varma (44* off 18) propelled the hosts to a massive total. West Indies’ fielding errors and a slow over-rate, which left them with fewer fielders in the deep during the final over, were early points of concern. The evening seemed headed in one direction, with West Indies undoing their own efforts through some poor effort in the field, after Hope won the toss and sent India in. The pair added 97 in 43 balls and India reached halfway at 127/1, with Ishan Kishan cracking 43 off 22 on his home ground.
The visitors’ pursuit began disastrously. Mayank Yadav removed Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer in the opening over, putting India in an early position of strength. However, the conditions shifted in favor of the batters as dew set in, leaving India’s spinners struggling; Axar Patel conceded 63 runs in 3.3 overs, while Kuldeep Yadav gave away 53 in four. Hope capitalized on the conditions, punishing the spinners and alongside Rovman Powell, kept the required run rate in check despite Mayank Yadav’s efforts to stall them.
A critical 120-run partnership off 54 balls between Hope and Rutherford turned the tide. Rutherford, who hit his third consecutive T20I fifty, provided aggressive momentum before falling to Kuldeep in the 15th over. Even with the target remaining at 72 off 35 balls, Romario Shepherd ensured the pressure remained on the Indian attack. Shepherd hit crucial blows during Kuldeep’s 24-run 17th over, and Arshdeep Singh conceded 17 in the following over, effectively ending India’s chances.
With only 10 runs required off the final two overs, Hope finished the game emphatically against Axar Patel. He hit a six to reach 96 and followed with another over long-off to seal his century and the victory. The final scores saw India finish at 249/5, while West Indies reached 252/4 in 18.3 overs, marking the highest-ever successful run chase for the Caribbean side in the format. Launching the free hit from Akeal Hosein over long-on, he made WI pay almost immediately. He took Hosein for two sixes and two fours in a 22-run over, looking more like his fluent self, two overs later. At mid-off on 42, was followed by a 21-ball fifty, the joint-fastest by an Indian against West Indies, a second drop.
