An exceptional win for West Indies after their bowlers put up a magical performance to seal the nail-biting thriller, winning the game by 4 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in this 5-match T20I series. The two-time World Champions proved their worth in the opening game. The Indian team kept suffering blows at regular intervals and never looked to get ahead of the chase at any point in time of the game.
Windies’ Jason Holder starred with the ball as he gave away just 19 runs in his four overs including a double-wicket maiden. Akeal Hosein was also economical and took one scalp with Obed McCoy and Romario Shepherd picking up two wickets each.
Earlier, the West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first in Trinidad and Nicholas Pooran (41) and Rovman Powell (48) powered their team to a decent total of 149/6 against India in the first T20I. For India, Arshdeep and Yuzvendra Chahal were the pick of the bowlers as they ended up taking two wickets each.
For India, young batter Tilak Varma was the lone warrior who scored 39 runs and tried to put up a fightback but then it was not enough. Apart from Tilak, Suryakumar Yadav made a run-a-ball 21 as he alongside Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Axar Patel got started well but could not make the most of it. Coming down the order, Arshdeep played a vital knock and took the game to the end but Romario Shepherd managed to defend 10 runs in the last over to ensure his team’s victory.
West Indies Squad: Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran(w), Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell(c), Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Brandon King, Odean Smith, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd.
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Varma.