Shreyas Iyer ended his wait for a maiden century in international T20 cricket in emphatic style, producing a breathtaking innings to guide India to an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the opening match of the five-match series in Lucknow.
India chased down 172 with 32 deliveries to spare, reaching 175 for two in 14.4 overs. Iyer finished unbeaten on 100 from just 42 balls, completing the victory with a single off the next delivery after Roston Chase’s over. The result gave India a 1-0 lead in the series.
The victory also maintained India’s momentum against the West Indies in the limited-overs leg of the contest. India had already won the preceding ODI series 2-1 and began the T20I campaign with another commanding performance.
India’s chase had an uncertain beginning. The hosts lost both openers within 3.3 overs, leaving the score at 35 for two. Iyer then walked in at number three alongside Ishan Kishan and quickly transformed the contest.
Kishan remained at the other end as Iyer took the attack to the West Indies bowlers. He reached his half-century in only 28 deliveries, having struck eight fours. Once past fifty, however, his scoring became even more destructive.
Iyer hit six sixes from his next 14 balls. Three of those came in Matthew Forde’s 14th over, as the Indian captain repeatedly cleared the boundary and placed the West Indies under mounting pressure.
He brought up his century from 42 deliveries, registering his first hundred in international T20 cricket. The achievement also made him the third Indian captain to score a T20I century, after Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.
For Iyer, the milestone marked a significant improvement on his previous best in the format. His highest international T20 score before this innings had been 80, meaning the unbeaten hundred in Lucknow established a new personal landmark.
The partnership with Kishan was equally important to India’s successful chase. The pair added 137 runs without being separated after the early losses. Kishan ended unbeaten on 37 from 27 balls, providing valuable support while Iyer dominated the scoring.
Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium has also proved a remarkably productive venue for Iyer in T20 cricket. Across five appearances at the ground for India and in the Indian Premier League, he has been dismissed only once. He has now recorded consecutive centuries at Ekana, where his T20 strike rate stands at 200.59.
Earlier, the West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs. Captain Shai Hope anchored their innings with 52 from 37 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford provided an aggressive contribution of 56 from 34 deliveries.
India’s debutant off-spinner Naman Dhir made an immediate impact with the ball, claiming three wickets for 31 runs. His spell helped prevent the visitors from converting their useful contributions into a substantially larger total.
The West Indies had managed to post a score that offered their bowlers something to defend, but Iyer’s extraordinary acceleration made the target appear modest. Even after India lost two early wickets, the 137-run stand between Iyer and Kishan removed any realistic prospect of a close finish.
Iyer’s century therefore served a dual purpose: it ended a personal wait and gave India an emphatic start to the T20I series. His ability to shift gears so rapidly after reaching fifty proved decisive in a match India ultimately won with considerable ease.
The second T20I will be played in Ranchi next Friday. India will enter the match with a 1-0 lead, while the West Indies will need a stronger all-round performance to level the series.
