India skipper Shreyas Iyer marked his return to form in spectacular fashion, smashing his maiden T20I century as India cruised to an eight-wicket win over West Indies in the opening match of the five-match series on Tuesday.Chasing 172, India raced to 172 for two in just 14.4 overs, with Iyer producing a breathtaking unbeaten 102 off 43 balls. The century, completed with a towering six off Roston Chase, was the fastest by an Indian batter against West Indies in T20Is.Iyer walked off to a standing ovation after taking his helmet off and raising both hands towards the Indian dugout. His innings featured six sixes and a total of 10 boundaries. The chase did not begin without a scare. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 15 runs in the opening over, but West Indies hit back through their spin duo of Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase, who dismissed both openers.Iyer took charge alongside Ishan Kishan and turned the chase into a one-sided contest. The Indian skipper's assault ensured the hosts never allowed the required rate to become a concern. Naman Dhir stars on debut Earlier, debutant Naman Dhir delivered an impressive all-round performance with the ball, claiming three wickets as India bowled West Indies out for 171 in 19.1 overs. Shai Hope top-scored for the visitors with a 37-ball 52, while Sherfane Rutherford provided the late impetus with a powerful 56 off 34 balls. West Indies made a brisk start, with Hope smashing Mayank Yadav for four boundaries in the second over. Arshdeep Singh then provided India with the first breakthrough by cleaning up Kamil Pooran. Join conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in the comments Post Comment Be respectful · TOI community guidelines The visitors' innings suffered another setback when Shimron Hetmyer was run out in the sixth over, before Axar Patel dismissed Rovman Powell for a duck. Rutherford briefly shifted the momentum back towards West Indies, taking on Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel during an aggressive 56. Hope also brought up a half-century before falling to Dhir in the 12th over.India then tightened the screws. Kuldeep removed Roston Chase before Dhir struck twice more to finish with impressive figures of 3/31. Kuldeep returned 2/33, while Axar picked up 2/26.With West Indies restricted to 171, Iyer ensured there was never any doubt about the result. His unbeaten century not only sealed India's eight-wicket victory but also gave the skipper the perfect start to the five-match series as India took a 1-0 lead. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Shreyas Iyer's maiden T20I century powers India to eight-wicket win over West Indies
In a thrilling opening match of the series, Shreyas Iyer reached his maiden T20I century, finishing with a stunning 102 runs off just 43 balls. This remarkable innings paved the way for India's eight-wicket triumph over West Indies. Debutant Naman Dhir made a mark too, claiming three wickets as the Windies were limited to 171 runs. India now leads the series 1-0, showcasing their prowess in both batting and bowling.
Read the full story at Times of India.