Sanju Samson’s 82 meant nothing in the end. West Indies dismantled India’s record T20I chase against them, crossing the line in just 18.3 overs. The win levels the five-match series 1-1 at the JSCA Stadium, erasing any early pressure on the visitors.
The shift happened when Mayank Yadav dropped Sherfane Rutherford. That missed chance unleashed the middle order. Hope and Rutherford then piled on 120 runs off just 54 balls, a partnership that simply broke the game open.
It was a masterclass in aggression. Hope struck six fours and nine sixes from 45 balls. Rutherford added seven fours and seven sixes from 37 deliveries. They faced India's spinners and treated them as match-ups, not obstacles.
Gautam Gambhir stood firm on his tactical choice. He defended promoting Shivam Dube to No. 4 despite a 7 off 10 balls. “Only the openers are permanent,” Gambhir said, insisting on a flexible batting order for the remainder of the series.
The next game is in Guwahati. India must fix their fielding lapses before the series tilts again.