The India vs West Indies T20I series ended without a winner on Saturday night after rain washed out the fifth and final match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India had raced to 118 for 5 in just 7.4 overs of a nine-over contest when the rain returned, the game was called off, and the five-match series finished 2-2, with the trophy shared.
For a series that swung back and forth all the way, it was a frustrating end. Bengaluru weather had already delayed the start by nearly three hours, and when play finally got going, India were in full attack mode before the skies opened again.
A long wait, then a nine-over sprint
Heavy rain hit Bengaluru a little after 6 pm, and the toss was pushed back repeatedly as covers stayed on. Overs began to be lost from about 7:45 pm. The groundstaff finally cleared the field and the toss took place at 9:01 pm, with the match cut to nine overs a side and a powerplay of just 2.4 overs.
West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to bowl. India, led by Shreyas Iyer, made two changes: Bhuvneshwar Kumar came in for Mayank Yadav, and Shivam Dube replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy.
How India's innings unfolded
Abhishek Sharma fell in the first over, caught by Shamar Joseph at mid-wicket for 6, but Ishan Kishan made sure the momentum did not drop. He smashed 30 off just 10 balls, including a 24-run over off Romario Shepherd, before departing in the third over.
Sanju Samson added a quick 16 off 7 before Shamar Springer bowled him. Iyer struck 22 off 14 balls, including two boundaries off Gudakesh Motie, but was caught by Joseph off Keemo Paul in the seventh over. Tilak Varma was bowled by Springer for 7, and the rain arrived almost immediately after that wicket. Naman Dhir was unbeaten on a blistering 24 off only 6 balls, with three sixes and a four.
| Batter | Score |
|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan | 30 (10 balls) |
| Naman Dhir | 24* (6 balls) |
| Shreyas Iyer | 22 (14 balls) |
| Sanju Samson | 16 (7 balls) |
| Tilak Varma | 7 (6 balls) |
| Abhishek Sharma | 6 |
| India total | 118/5 in 7.4 overs |
| Best bowling (WI) | Shamar Springer 2 wickets, Keemo Paul 2 wickets |
| Result | No result (rain); series drawn 2-2, trophy shared |
A series that never settled
India won the first and third T20Is, but West Indies hit back each time, winning in Ranchi and then in Hyderabad. The fourth game in Hyderabad was the visitors' standout performance, with Hope scoring an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls and Keemo Paul taking five wickets in a 24-run win that levelled the series and set up the Bengaluru decider.
There was no reserve day for the final match, so once the rain returned, a shared trophy was the only outcome.
What it means for India
The draw is a reminder of how competitive this West Indies T20 side has become, especially with Hope at the top and a bowling group that kept taking wickets in clusters. For India, the positives are clear: Kishan and Abhishek remain explosive at the top, Iyer has led the side with calm intent, and Naman Dhir's cameo showed he can finish games even in a heavily shortened innings.
There are questions too. India were beaten twice at home in a five-match series, and the bowling combination kept changing, with two more changes made for the decider alone. The selectors will want more consistency with the ball before the next big assignment.
What happens next
There is barely any time to reflect. India travel to New Zealand straight after this series, with players reaching there on October 20 and the first match scheduled for October 22. Sanju Samson summed up the tight turnaround before the Bengaluru game: "To be very honest, with the way the schedule is structured these days, you don't get much time to practice or prepare."
For West Indies, sharing a T20I trophy in India is a result they will happily take home, and a sign that they could be a serious threat in the format over the coming season.
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