The Indian cricket team suffered a six-wicket defeat to the West Indies in the second game of the five-match IND vs WI T20I 2026 series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday.
World No. 2 India, the reigning T20 world champions, posted a formidable 249/5, led by Sanju Samson’s 82 off 41 balls. Roston Chase was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 3/24.
However, the seventh-ranked West Indies, two-time T20 world champions, raced to 252/4 in 18.3 overs, with captain Shai Hope unbeaten on 102 off 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford scoring 84 off 37.
The victory levelled the India vs West Indies T20 series at 1-1.
It was the highest successful T20I chase by the West Indies and the second-highest in men’s T20I history, behind South Africa’s 259/4 against the Caribbean side in Centurion in 2023.
India’s 249/5 also became their highest total in a T20I defeat after batting first, surpassing the 222/3 they failed to defend against Australia in Guwahati in 2023.
Earlier, India raced to 79/1 in the powerplay after being asked to bat despite losing Abhishek Sharma for 20.
Samson reached his half-century from just 21 balls and added 97 runs for the second wicket with local favourite Ishan Kishan, who struck 43 off 22.
Chase dismissed Kishan and Shivam Dube before Samson also departed.
From 162/4, captain Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma added 83 for the fifth wicket. Shreyas hammered 40 off 18 balls, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 from 18 to take India to 249/5.
India appeared to have taken control of the chase when Mayank Yadav removed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer off successive deliveries in the opening over.
Mayank returned to rattle Rovman Powell’s stumps, leaving the West Indies 58/3 in the sixth over.
Hope and Rutherford, however, turned the contest on its head with a blistering 120-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Rutherford smashed seven fours and seven sixes during his 37-ball 84 before Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the stand with West Indies on 178/4 in the 15th over.
The breakthrough provided little respite for India. Hope continued the onslaught alongside Romario Shepherd, who smashed an unbeaten 34 off 13 balls.
Hope brought up his century from 45 deliveries, finishing with six fours and nine sixes as West Indies completed the record pursuit with nine balls to spare.
Mayank finished with 3/36 but the rest of the Indian attack struggled to contain the West Indies batting charge.
India and the West Indies will meet again in the third T20I in Indore on Sunday.
IND vs WI T20 2026 match 2, brief scores: India 249/5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 82; Roston Chase 3/24) lost to West Indies 252/4 in 18.3 overs (Shai Hope 102 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 84; Mayank Yadav 3/36) by six wickets.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/india-vs-west-indies-t20-cricket-2026-match-2-report
