BENGALURU: India and West Indies were forced to settle for a 2-2 stalemate in their five-match T20I series after Saturday’s deciding match lasted just 48 minutes before it met a watery end.
At Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where play began an hour and 45 minutes behind schedule and the match was reduced to nine overs a side, India had reached 118-5 in 7.4 overs when the rain returned, forcing the umpires to call off play with not even a five-overs-a-side shootout possible.
The venue was hosting its first international fixture since October 2024 and more than 20,000 expectant fans braved the inclement weather.
Indian batters went on the rampage after being put in by West Indies captain Shai Hope, with Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Naman Dhir leading the way.
India lashed eight fours and seven sixes in their limited batting stint, Kishan bringing up the 100th six of the series. But then, the skies opened up again, emphatically washing away any prospect of a decisive outcome.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026
