West Indies pulled off a remarkable 250-run chase against India in Ranchi on Friday, 9 October 2026, winning the second men’s Twenty20 international by six wickets. Captain Shai Hope scored 102 off 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford struck 84 off 37 as the visitors levelled the series at 1-1.
Key points
- West Indies beat India by six wickets in Ranchi after chasing 250 in 18.3 overs.
- Shai Hope’s 102 and Sherfane Rutherford’s 84 turned a difficult chase into one of the highest successful totals in men’s T20 internationals.
- India had posted 249 for five, including Sanju Samson’s 82, but its bowlers could not defend the imposing target.
How the chase developed
The International Cricket Council’s match account says West Indies lost two wickets in the opening over before rebuilding. Their run chase still accelerated rapidly: Hope anchored the innings, Rutherford supplied sustained boundary-hitting pressure and Romario Shepherd finished with 34 off 13 balls. According to the ICC, West Indies completed the chase in 18.3 overs, the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20 international cricket at the time.
Indian Express reported that the visitors were 58 for three before Hope and Rutherford put on a 120-run partnership. That recovery mattered as much as the final barrage of boundaries. A side that looked under pressure at the start found a way to keep the required run rate within reach without waiting for one batter to do all the work.
India’s innings and the key contrast
India finished on 249 for five. Sanju Samson led with 82, Ishan Kishan added 43 and captain Shreyas Iyer hit 40 off 18 balls. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44. The total was India’s highest against West Indies in men’s T20 internationals, according to Indian Express.
Even so, a high first-innings score does not guarantee a result in a format where one partnership can change the game quickly. With boundaries flowing late in the chase, West Indies turned India’s attacking batting display into a losing effort.
Why it matters
The result changes the immediate balance of the series: both teams have one win, and India’s bowling response after taking early wickets will be scrutinised before their next meeting. West Indies can take confidence not simply from winning, but from chasing a daunting total while overcoming early dismissals.
Earlier in the series, Shreyas Iyer’s century powered an India win. More reports are available in the Sports archive. What bowling change might have made the biggest difference in Ranchi?
Sources
ICC match report, 9 October 2026; Indian Express match report, updated 9 October 2026.
Cover illustration updated 16 October 2026: Original AI-assisted editorial illustration created exclusively for this article by Taaza Khabar with the built-in image generation tool. Conceptual cricket illustration with anonymous batters and stadium floodlights; not a photograph of the Ranchi match. Original publication date retained.
Published 10 October 2026. This original article was drafted with AI assistance and cross-checked against the dated ICC and independent match reporting.
Leave a Reply