India's 249/5 total left West Indies scrambling after Mayank Yadav's blistering powerplay: three wickets for 36 in six overs, setting the tone for the chase.
Sampson lit the scoreboard with 82 off 41, while Ishan Kishan hit 43 off 22, Iyer smashed 40 off 18, and Tilak Varma stayed unbeaten on 44 off 18.
Yadav's first over was a demolition derby. He toppled Kamil Pooran on the third ball, a 143 km/h short‑delivery that sent the batsman top‑edging into the air. The next ball, a 144 km/h short‑length, cleaved Shimron Hetmyer’s attempted defence and smacked him for a golden duck. His final powerplay ball, clocked at a blistering 149.5 km/h, rumbled past Rovman Powell, clipped his pad and crashed into the stumps for a wicket that sent Powell back for 24 off 13 balls.
With the West Indies at 72/3 after six overs, the Indian bowlers continued to bite. Yadav finished with figures of 3 for 36 from his three overs, while the rest of the attack chipped in with 2 wickets for 25. The win not only gives India a 1‑0 lead in the five‑match series but also forces the West Indies to fight for a morale‑boosting victory in the next encounter.
India will now take the field in the next match at Ranchi on Saturday, hoping to hammer the West Indies to a series‑clinching win. The West Indies, meanwhile, will look to regroup and snatch points in the coming game.