LUCKNOW: Shreyas Iyer produced the defining innings of India’s opening T20I against West Indies on Tuesday, smashing his maiden century in the format and leading India to an eight-wicket victory at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 172 after West Indies were dismissed for 171, India slipped to 35 for two early in the innings. Iyer then took control of the chase, combining with Ishan Kishan to turn a potentially difficult pursuit into a one-sided contest.
Iyer finished unbeaten on 102 from 43 balls, striking 10 fours and six sixes. He reached his century from 42 deliveries before adding the runs required to take India over the line. India finished on 172 for two in 14.4 overs, with 32 balls remaining.
Iyer moves past Kohli’s captaincy record
The century also carried a notable record involving former India captain Virat Kohli.
Iyer became the first Indian captain to score a T20I century while chasing. Before Tuesday’s match, Kohli held the highest score by an Indian captain in a successful T20I chase, with his unbeaten 94 against West Indies in Hyderabad in 2019.
Iyer’s 102 therefore surpassed Kohli’s 94 by eight runs.
The achievement came in only Iyer’s first T20I century. His previous best in the format had been 74, making Tuesday’s performance a substantial improvement on his earlier international returns.
India recover after early setbacks
India’s chase did not begin smoothly.
Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for 21 from 10 balls, while Sanju Samson fell for 11 as India reached 35 for two in the fourth over. Iyer entered with the innings needing stability, but quickly shifted the pressure back onto the West Indies bowlers.
He and Ishan Kishan put together an unbeaten 137-run partnership, taking India from 35 for two to the winning total. Kishan contributed an unbeaten 37 from 27 balls.
Iyer’s acceleration was particularly striking. After assessing the conditions, he began finding boundaries regularly and brought up his century with a six off Roston Chase.
The hundred was also reported as the fastest T20I century by an Indian against West Indies, with Iyer reaching three figures in 42 balls.
West Indies make 171 before India take charge
Earlier, West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs after India elected to field.
Shai Hope made 52 from 37 balls and Sherfane Rutherford added 56 from 34, but India kept taking wickets after the West Indies had built useful partnerships.
Naman Dhir made an immediate impact on his T20I debut, claiming three wickets for 31 runs from four overs. Axar Patel took two wickets for 26, while Kuldeep Yadav also claimed two.
West Indies lost wickets regularly after reaching 107 for four, eventually being bowled out for 171 with five balls of their innings remaining.
India then needed only 14.4 overs to complete the chase.
A landmark start for Iyer’s T20I captaincy
The result gives India a 1-0 lead in the T20I series and extends their winning run in the format to 10 matches, according to the International Cricket Council.
For Iyer, the performance also provides a major personal milestone after taking over as India’s T20I captain earlier this year.
His century came at a crucial point in the chase and turned an early wobble into a comfortable victory. More importantly, it added a new entry to India’s T20I captaincy record book: Iyer is now the first Indian skipper to score a century while batting second.
India’s next challenge will be maintaining that momentum as the series continues.
What did Shreyas Iyer achieve against West Indies?
Iyer scored an unbeaten 102 from 43 balls in the first T20I in Lucknow, his maiden T20I century. India won by eight wickets.
How many balls did Shreyas Iyer take to score his T20I century?
Iyer reached his century in 42 balls before finishing unbeaten on 102 from 43 deliveries.
Which Virat Kohli record did Shreyas Iyer break?
Iyer surpassed Kohli’s previous highest score by an Indian captain in a successful T20I chase. Kohli had scored an unbeaten 94 against West Indies in 2019.
What was India’s score against West Indies?
India scored 172 for two in 14.4 overs while chasing West Indies’ 171.
How many runs did Ishan Kishan score?
Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 37 from 27 balls and shared a 137-run partnership with Iyer.
How did West Indies score 171?
Shai Hope made 52 and Sherfane Rutherford scored 56, but West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs.
Who was India’s leading wicket-taker?
Naman Dhir took three wickets for 31 runs on his T20I debut.
What was the result of the first T20I?
India defeated West Indies by eight wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
