India beat West Indies by eight wickets in Lucknow T20I

India defeated West Indies by eight wickets with 32 balls remaining in the first T20I in Lucknow, completing a chase of 172 after Shreyas Iyer chose to bowl first at the toss. West Indies made 171, but India reached 172 for 2 in 14.4 overs to take the result in the opening match of the five-game series.

The match also brought international debuts for India allrounder Naman Dhir and West Indies opening batter Kamil Pooran. Dhir was included in India’s XI as the hosts returned to an extra specialist middle-order batting option, while Pooran came into the West Indies side following a successful CPL.

India’s selection call and the toss

Iyer won the toss and elected to field, marking his 14th toss win in 17 matches as India captain. It was the fourth international of the tour for West Indies, who had yet to win a toss on the visit.

India had used all three of Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson as openers during the Asian Games in Japan under stand-in coach VVS Laxman. For the Lucknow T20I, however, they moved back to an additional specialist middle-order batter and left out Sooryavanshi.

The Indian bowling group featured Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav as specialist bowlers. Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Dhir were named among the allrounders. Dhir had also impressed on his ODI debut earlier in the tour, and received his T20I cap from his Punjab team-mate Arshdeep.

India’s top order included Abhishek Sharma, Samson and Kishan, with Iyer leading the side. Tilak Varma, Dube, Dhir and Axar completed the batting and allround options before the bowling trio of Kuldeep, Mayank and Arshdeep.

West Indies reinforced the ODI group, which had lost its series 2-1, with specialist T20 batting options. Pooran, a 30-year-old right-hand opening batter, made his international debut, while Shai Hope captained the side and kept wicket.

The visitors also selected one more seam option than India. Shamar Joseph, Shamar Springer, Matthew Forde and Romario Shepherd formed their pace group, while Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase were the two finger-spinners. Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford were also in the West Indies batting order.

Chase seals an eight-wicket win

West Indies posted 171 after being asked to bat first, setting India a target of 172. India’s reply finished quickly: 172 for 2 from 14.4 overs. The margin of eight wickets and the 32 balls left unused underline the scale of the hosts’ opening-game victory.

The result gives India the early advantage in the five-match T20I series. It also provided a winning start in a match that featured two new international faces, with Dhir making his India debut and Pooran beginning his West Indies career.

For India, the decision to field first was followed by a successful chase, while their adjusted batting balance produced a victory without needing to use all 20 overs. West Indies, despite reaching 171, were unable to defend the total as India completed the target with two wickets down.

The first T20I therefore delivered both a clear series-opening result and notable selection developments. India’s extra middle-order option was Dhir, while West Indies introduced Pooran at the top of their order. India now lead after the Lucknow contest, having won by eight wickets with 32 deliveries remaining.