Sanju Samson’s 56 off 23 balls marked a personal milestone, but West Indies won the fourth T20I by 24 runs to level the series 2-2.
Sanju Samson reached a landmark in his T20 International career on Wednesday, October 14, becoming the sixth Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in the format. The achievement came during a high-scoring fourth T20I against the West Indies at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, where India’s chase ultimately fell short.
Samson struck 56 runs from 23 deliveries, giving India an aggressive start as they pursued a target of 248. His innings included four sixes and six fours, but his dismissal left the hosts needing another batter to produce a substantial contribution.
West Indies eventually secured a 24-run victory, bringing the five-match series level at 2-2 ahead of the decider in Bengaluru on October 17.
Samson enters India’s 100-six club
Samson’s milestone places him among a select group of Indian players who have cleared the boundary at least 100 times in men’s T20 internationals.
The group includes Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli. Rohit leads the list with 205 sixes, followed by Suryakumar with 179, Abhishek with 141, Hardik with 126 and Kohli with 124, according to figures reported after the match.
Samson also reached his half-century in 20 balls, matching his personal best for the fastest fifty in T20 internationals, as reported by Gulf News.
His rapid scoring gave India early momentum during the chase. However, the innings could not develop into a match-winning performance after West Indies began taking wickets.
Shai Hope sets up West Indies’ imposing total
West Indies captain Shai Hope was central to the visitors’ commanding batting display. He scored an unbeaten 102 from 50 balls, helping his side finish on 247-3 after being asked to bat first.
Sherfane Rutherford provided further acceleration with an unbeaten 49 off 26 deliveries. The pair added an unbroken 91 runs from 43 balls, leaving India with a demanding target.
West Indies also made a strong start in the powerplay, reaching 79-1 in six overs. Their ability to maintain the scoring rate throughout the innings put India’s bowlers under sustained pressure.
The total required India to maintain an aggressive approach while avoiding a collapse in the middle overs.
Keemo Paul turns the chase in West Indies’ favour
India began positively through Samson, but his dismissal by Keemo Paul in the fifth over changed the momentum. Paul then removed Ishan Kishan, who scored six, as the visitors continued to apply pressure.
India’s middle order struggled to build the kind of innings needed to keep pace with the target. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy briefly revived the chase with a 70-run partnership, offering the home side a chance to recover.
Varma was dismissed by Romario Shepherd, while Reddy made 41 before falling to Paul. The West Indies bowler continued his decisive spell, finishing with five wickets for 41 runs.
India were eventually bowled out for 223, ending their hopes of securing the series with a match to spare.
Series decider awaits in Bengaluru
The result leaves the five-match contest tied at two wins apiece. Both teams now head into the fifth T20I knowing that victory will settle the series.
For India, Samson’s milestone provides an individual highlight from a difficult result. The team’s challenge will be to convert strong starts into a more complete batting performance while addressing the pressure created by West Indies’ powerful scoring.
West Indies, meanwhile, will take confidence from Hope’s century and Paul’s five-wicket haul as they prepare for the final match.
Match result: West Indies beat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I at Hyderabad on October 14, 2026, levelling the five-match series 2-2.
Q1. What record did Sanju Samson achieve against the West Indies?
Sanju Samson became the sixth Indian batter to reach 100 sixes in men’s T20 Internationals during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on October 14, 2026.
Q2. How many runs did Sanju Samson score?
Samson scored 56 runs off 23 balls, including four sixes and six fours.
Q3. Did India win the fourth T20I?
No. West Indies defeated India by 24 runs after scoring 247-3 and restricting India to 223.
Q4. Who scored a century for West Indies?
Captain Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 102 from 50 balls, helping West Indies establish a challenging total.
Q5. Who was West Indies’ leading wicket-taker?
Keemo Paul claimed five wickets for 41 runs, playing a decisive role in India’s unsuccessful chase.
Q6. Which Indian players have hit at least 100 T20I sixes?
The group includes Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson.
Q7. When is the fifth India-West Indies T20I?
The fifth T20I is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
