SportsPosted at: Oct 6 2026 10:25PM


Iyer's 42-ball blitz, Dhir's three-wicket haul power India to crushing win over WI

Lucknow, Oct 6 (UNI) Shreyas Iyer's breathtaking 42-ball maiden T20I century and debutant Naman Dhir's impressive three-wicket haul powered India to a crushing eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.
Iyer remained unbeaten on 102 off 43 balls, hammering 10 fours and six sixes at a staggering strike rate of 237.21, while Dhir returned 3/31 as India first restricted West Indies to 171 before racing to 172/2 in just 14.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead.
The century, completed with a towering six over long-on off Roston Chase, came off 42 deliveries and was the fastest T20I hundred by an Indian against West Indies. It also marked a spectacular return to form at a venue where Iyer had previously smashed a century for Punjab Kings.
India's chase did not begin smoothly. Abhishek Sharma provided an explosive start, smashing a six and two fours in the opening over before falling for 21 off 10 balls to Chase.
Sanju Samson made 11 off nine before being caught and bowled by Akeal Hosein, leaving India at 35/2 in the fourth over.
That, however, proved to be the last moment of concern for the hosts.
Iyer joined Ishan Kishan and immediately shifted the momentum. He struck three boundaries off Shamar Joseph before taking apart Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer.
Iyer reached his half-century from 30 balls, registering his second consecutive T20I fifty and his third successive 50-plus score in T20s at the Lucknow venue.
He then accelerated into an extraordinary assault.
Against Akeal Hosein, Iyer repeatedly cleared the boundary, while Matthew Forde was taken apart in the 14th over for 24 runs, including three sixes and a four. Iyer was also dropped at long-on during the over, but West Indies were unable to make the reprieve count.
One ball after reaching 96, Iyer cleared Chase over long-on to bring up his hundred from 42 deliveries.
At the other end, Kishan remained unbeaten on 37 off 27 balls with five fours. The duo added an unbeaten 137 runs off just 67 balls, completely dismantling the West Indies attack.
Earlier, West Indies posted 171 all out in 19.1 overs after captain Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford struck aggressive half-centuries.
Hope made 52 off 37 balls, including six fours and two sixes, while Rutherford smashed 56 off 34 balls with six fours and three sixes.
West Indies started aggressively after India won the toss and opted to bowl. Hope immediately attacked Mayank Yadav, taking 16 runs from the pacer's opening over.
Arshdeep Singh, however, provided India's first breakthrough by bowling Kamil Pooran for 12. Shimron Hetmyer was then run out for five following sharp fielding involving Iyer and Sanju Samson, before Axar Patel bowled Rovman Powell for a duck.
Hope and Rutherford rebuilt the innings with a 63-run stand, but Dhir broke the partnership soon after Hope completed his fifty.
Dhir, making his T20I debut, struck again to remove Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer, finishing with an impressive 3/31 from four overs.
Kuldeep Yadav claimed 2/33, while Axar returned 2/26. Mayank Yadav removed Rutherford for 56, ending a dangerous late assault.
Ishan Kishan also produced a spectacular catch to dismiss Matthew Forde off Kuldeep.
West Indies eventually folded for 171, but their total proved wholly inadequate once Iyer unleashed his breathtaking assault.
India completed the chase with 32 balls to spare, with Dhir's three-wicket debut and Iyer's sensational hundred providing the perfect combination of bowling discipline and batting power for a dominant opening win.
Brief Scores:
West Indies 171 all out in 19.1 overs (Shai Hope 52, Sherfane Rutherford 56; Naman Dhir 3/31, Axar Patel 2/26, Kuldeep Yadav 2/33).
India 172/2 in 14.4 overs (Shreyas Iyer 102 not out, Ishan Kishan 37 not out; Akeal Hosein 1/37, Roston Chase 1/37).
India won by 8 wickets.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Iyer's 42-ball blitz# Dhir's three-wicket haul power India to crushing win over WI
More News

IOC reveals guide to host 2036 Olympic Games

06 Oct 2026 | 10:50 PM

Geneva, Oct 6 (UNI) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday released a handbook for potential hosts of the 2036 Olympic Games, outlining the requirements for Interested Parties at each stage of the selection process.

see more..

Shreyas Iyer's record 42-ball ton makes Ekana his personal stage

06 Oct 2026 | 10:40 PM

Lucknow, Oct 6 (UNI) Shreyas Iyer once again turned the Ekana Cricket Stadium into his personal stage, producing a breathtaking unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls to become the first Indian captain to score a T20I century while chasing, and power India to a crushing eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening match of the three-game series here on Tuesday.

see more..

Mexico loses Mora to ankle injury

06 Oct 2026 | 10:39 PM

Mexico City, Oct 6 (UNI) Teenage midfielder Gilberto Mora will miss Mexico's friendly against Chile due to injury, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said. .

see more..

Thapa goal not enough as Uruguay overwhelm India 6-1 in international friendly

06 Oct 2026 | 10:36 PM

Kolkata, Oct 6 (UNI) Three days after a 4-0 thrashing by Brazil, India suffered another heavy
defeat as two-time world champions Uruguay cruised to a 6-1 win over the hosts in an
international friendly at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Tuesday.

see more..

ISU chief Kim elected president of Winter Olympic Federations

06 Oct 2026 | 10:27 PM

Lausanne (Switzerland), Oct 6 (UNI) International Skating union (ISU) President Kim Jae-youl has been elected president of the Winter Olympic Federations (WOF), the ISU announced.
Kim succeeded Italy's Ivo Ferriani at WOF's latest meeting. Kim had been elected to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board earlier this year and won a second
term as ISU president in June, according to Xinhua.
"I will stand in solidarity with WOF members to elevate the stature of winter sports," Kim said.

see more..