The West Indies cricket team produced a thrilling performance in Hyderabad on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, defeating India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I to level the five-match series at 2-2. Shai Hope was the star of the night, smashing an unbeaten 102 off just 50 balls and collecting the Player of the Match award, as the visitors ensured that the series finale in Bengaluru this Saturday will be a winner-takes-all showdown.
The Hyderabad Thriller: Hope Shines Bright
Batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, West Indies set a daunting target of 248, riding on Hope’s fireworks and aided by solid contributions from Shimron Hetmyer (43) and Kamil Pooran (42). The pitch offered variable bounce and less dew, making life tricky for the chasing side, a fact reflected in the run chase. India, led by Shreyas Iyer, responded with aggression—posting strong numbers against the quick bowlers, including a strike rate of 242.3 on full deliveries—but ultimately fell short, finishing 24 runs adrift of the target.
The Indian chase was highlighted by Sanju Samson’s quick-fire 56, earning him entry into an elite T20I club alongside Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, with wickets falling at crucial intervals—especially against well-directed short balls, where India managed just 32 off 31 balls—the hosts never quite got ahead of the required rate. An injury scare for Arshdeep Singh late in the match effectively sealed India’s fate, as the West Indies bowlers held their nerve to secure victory.
Series Decider Awaits in Bengaluru
With this win, West Indies not only bounced back from their earlier defeats but also set up a mouthwatering finale at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 pm IST (1:30 pm GMT), and fans can catch all the action live on the Star Sports Network or stream it via JioHotstar.
For West Indies, the victory in Hyderabad was a showcase of resilience and big-match temperament. Shai Hope himself joked about the weight of Player of the Match trophies, highlighting the team’s upbeat mood. “Conditions were a little bit more similar for both sides tonight, but we made the most of our opportunities,” said Hope after the game.
India, still favorites with betting odds at 1.31 compared to West Indies’ 3.35, will look to regroup and reclaim the momentum in the decider. With the series now perfectly poised at 2-2, cricket fans are guaranteed a blockbuster finish.
