HIGHLIGHTS India vs West Indies, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8 - 12 T20- Result, Scorecard

Welcome back. We are all set for the chase to begin. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have walked out to open for India. Akeal Hosein, the left-arm orthodox, will be bowling the first over for West Indies and seeing that, Sharma has decided to face the first ball. Here we go with the run-chase...

... The Run Chase ...

Steep mountain to climb - India’s effort in the field added to their woes, characterized by uncharacteristic lapses, including two dropped catches by Abhishek Sharma. Jasprit Bumrah got a couple of wickets whereas Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakaravarthy got one each as well. Chasing 196 is a daunting task, especially given India’s historical struggle to hunt down large totals in T20 World Cups. With their title defense on the line, the pressure is immense on the Indian batting order to deliver a clinical start in this high-pressure pursuit. We will be back with the chase.

Carnage towards the end shifts momentum - While India managed to claw back into the game by taking three quick wickets in the middle phase, the final five overs proved costly. The West Indies were positioned at 125/4 after 15 overs, but a late-inning surge spearheaded by Jason Holder and Rovman Powell saw them plunder 70 runs in the death overs. The duo remained unbeaten till the end and added 76 off just 35 balls for the 5th wicket. Suryakumar Yadav will likely be frustrated with a couple of big overs, as the momentum shifted significantly toward the Caribbean side heading into the break.

Windies post a formidable total - In a do-or-die clash for a spot in the next round, the West Indies have set a challenging target of 196, finishing their 20 overs at 195/4. After Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first, the Men in Maroon justified their power-hitting reputation. Despite a forced change at the top with Brandon King sidelined, Roston Chase stepped up, combining with Shai Hope to provide a platform with a solid 68-run opening partnership.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jason Holder, Bumrah gets the yorker correct again, and slants it down leg, cramping the batter for room. Jason Holder fails to squeeze it out, and the ball rolls on the pitch off the boot. Holder is keen to pinch in a leg bye, but Powell is going nowhere. Spotting Holder charge, Bumrah dashes forward to the ball, forcing Holder to scramble back just in time before Bumrah gathers the ball and breaks the stumps. A dot to finish! But still 14 from the final over. WEST INDIES POST 195/4 ON THE BOARD.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, Gets the yorker in perfectly this time around, does Bumrah. On the leg stump line. Powell fails to dig it out, the ball thuds the front pad and rolls into the off side for a leg bye.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Sheer muscle power! Even SKY admires that shot. Bumrah attempts the yorker, but ends up bowling a yard or two fuller, on the stumps. Rovman Powell brings his bottom hand to play and whips it powerfully, bisecting long on and deep mid-wicket to perfection for a boundary.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, A toe-crushing yorker, on the leg stump. Rovman Powell gets the front leg out of the way and shovels it through the vacant mid on region. They run the first one hard and by the time long on gets to the ball, they hare back for the second.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jason Holder, Much better from Bumrah. Nails the straight yorker, and Holder can only jam it down to long on for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jason Holder, SIX! Slower one, but Holder manages to get a hold of it. On a length and angled across off, Jason Holder is undone by the lack of pace but swing across the line and manages to launch it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. A perfect start to the last over for West Indies.

An outstanding comeback from Arshdeep Singh as he gives away just 6 off this over. Bumrah to close the innings. Can West Indies get to 200?

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, Holder shows his cards early by shuffling outside off, and Singh pushes it wide outside off, keeping the length fuller. Jason Holder can only carve it past cover for a single. So just 6 runs from the penultimate over.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, A low full toss outside off, and Holder squeezes it off the toe-end towards extra cover. He turns quickly and charges back for the second before the deep fielder can tidy up.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, Nicely bowled! Full and wide once more. Holder shuffles across and throws his bat at it, stretching hard, only to catch a faint toe-end that sneaks past the diving keeper to his right.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, WIDE! A late call. Miles outside the off stump, breaching the tramline. Holder does shuffle long way, but leaves. Initially, it wasn't called a wide, but the replay confirms that it is way, way outside the guideline.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, DROPPED! Abhishek Sharma hasn't had the best of tournaments fielding wise, also. A full delivery fired in at the stumps, and Powell whips it aerially towards deep mid-wicket. The ball dips in front of Abhishek Sharma who is a bit slow to get off the blocks from the ropes. He is forced to dive forward, but couldn’t hold on to the catch. A single taken.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, Whoa! Miles outside off, the cutter on a good length. Rovman Powell shuffles a long way across, gets down to pull, but gets a leading edge. The ball goes flat to the right of the keeper. Sanju Samson flings full-stretch but it stays out of his wingspan and it is Varun Chakaravarthy who collects it on the bounce at short third.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, In the air... lands safely! Slower delivery by the looks of it, full and far outside off. Jason Holder mistimes the shot down the ground, but luckily for him, it lands between the converging long on and long off fielders for a single.

Arshdeep Singh to bowl the penultimate over.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Bumrah cannot escape it safely! A bit lethargic by Varun Chakaravarthy. Too full, almost a yorker, tailing in on the pads, Rovman Powell uses the pace, tickles it to the left of short fine leg. Varun Chakaravarthy is late to react, gets to the ball with the dive, but fails to stop it cleanly and it squirts through to the fence behind.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jason Holder, There's that in-dipping slower ball, a low full toss, around off. Holder walks forward a couple of steps, tries to whack it across, but gets off the inner half to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, Angled at the pads, at 139.6 kph. Rovman Powell whips the full toss to deep square leg for a run.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jason Holder, Spears it full and on the pads, Jason shimmies down a bit and flicks it along the ground to long on for just a run. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between Powell and Holder.

Jasprit Bumrah to Jason Holder, FOUR! That's a good shot! Using his height to advantage, is Holder. JB takes pace and goes short, and outside off. Jason Holder fetches it and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, Cannons one on a fuller length, on middle, Rovman Powell plays with the angle, and whips it to the widish long on region. Hardik Pandya is quick to get across to his right and sees the batters sniffing a second. He gets rid of the ball quickly to the bowling end and that forces Powell to retreat back and dive desperately to get back in.

Varun Chakaravarthy ends with 40 for 1 after 4 overs. Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Jason Holder, Bowls it wide outside off, on a good length as Jason shuffles a bit to the off side. He leaves thinking for a wide, but it is deemed a fair ball. Holder looks a bit perplexed here.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Jason Holder, FOUR! BRUTE FORCE! Not that short by Varun, this. Fractional full and outside off, the leg break. Jason Holder clears the front leg and blasts it over mid on for a boundary. Long on stands absolutely no chance to even move a muscle.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Jason Holder, Short, outside off, Jason slaps it to deep cover's left. Ishan Kishan cuts it off in the deep with a sprint. Two taken.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Jason Holder, SIX! That's sailed past the Howrah Bridge! Varun serves a full ball, on off, Jason Holder brings his long levers in play and smokes it miles into the stands for a six behind cow corner.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Rovman Powell, A touch short than the previous ball, on middle, Powell heaves it to deep square leg for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Jason Holder, 150 up for West Indies! At 92.8 kph, full and around off, spinning in. Jason Holder attempts for the big slog, but inside edges to short fine leg's right for a single. On another day, it could have crashed onto the stumps.

Varun Chakaravarthy to bowl out here. which means it will probably be Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the 18th and the 20th with Arshdeep Singh bowling the 19th again.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Wow, what a momentum-shifting over for West Indies and they get 24 runs off it. Slower one, back of a length and angled wide outside off, Powell reaches out and controls the cut-shot, hitting it wide of point for a boundary to close out the over.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, SIX! A flick of the wrists and that's disappeared over the ropes. Full and on the pads, pace-on again from Arshdeep. Rovman Powell nonchalantly flicks it all the way over deep square leg for another maximum. That's also the 150th six for Powell in T20Is, most by a West Indian batter, as mentioned by the on-air commentators.

The momentum has shifted back in the Windies' favor a bit here.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, WIDE. Singh comes over the wicket now and dishes out a full and wide one, angling it beyond the tramline outside off.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, SIX! Oh, that is masssiiivvveee. Short of a length again, angled into the batter, Rovman Powell stays back, picks the length early and absolutely wallops it over deep square leg for a biggie.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, FIVE WIDES! Oh, an effort ball from Arshdeep but it's a wild one. Dug in well short and angled into the batter, Powell ducks under it. The ball sails over Powell's head and past the keeper, into the fine leg fence.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, Completely mistimed and Holder will get away with it. Slightly into the surface, over middle, Jason Holder backs away to slam it across over mid-wicket but gets it high on the bat. The ball lands safely around the mid on region and Holder picks up a single.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, Back of a length, in the channel, defended off the backfoot by Holder.

Arshdeep Singh to Rovman Powell, Good-length delivery from around the wicket, in and around off. Powell hangs back and pats it down past point for a single.

Arshdeep Singh (2-0-13-0) has been called back into the attack.

Hardik Pandya to Jason Holder, SIX! Down the pitch, goes Holder and nails it over the ropes. Pandya brings the line onto the stumps and serves it a touch fuller, Jason Holder simply walks at the bowler and pummels it back over his head for a biggie. Spoils a wicket maiden for Pandya.

Hardik Pandya to Jason Holder, Another dot ball, this is turning out to be a fine over from Hardik Pandya. The in-between length, tight line around off, Holder waits back and just eases it down to backward point.

Hardik Pandya to Jason Holder, Just back of a length, on the fourth stump line, Holder hangs back to defend. A wicket and then three dots after that.

Hardik Pandya to Jason Holder, Good length on off, Holder gets the hands out in front of the pads and blocks it in front of covers.

Hardik Pandya to Jason Holder, That's a beauty from Pandya! Test-match length, in the channel, gets it to straighten off the deck. Jason Holder is caught back on the crease and has a poke at it but the ball whizzes past the outside edge.

Jason Holder is the next batter in for West Indies.

Hardik Pandya to Sherfane Rutherford, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! A wicket straight after the break and Hardik Pandya turns things around with the ball here. Pandya backs the off-cutter and bangs it into the surface around off, gets it to grip and move away from the left-hander with extra bounce. Sherfane Rutherford stays put and tries to play a cute late dab, but ends up edging it behind. Sanju Samson takes a simple catch to his left and that is a big wicket in the context of the game. From 102/1, West Indies slide down to 119/4.

DRINKS! This continues to be a tight contest to this point but India would feel they are slightly ahead with Shimron Hetmyer back in the dugout. Sherfane Rutherford is still out in the middle and the Windies have got the firepower to still post a total around 180-190, which could be massive in a do-or-die contest, but with 2 overs from Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh still on offer, India will be hoping to restrict the Windies below 170.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sherfane Rutherford, Shortish length, angled in from around the wicket, Rutherford gets across the off stump and chips it between mid on and mid-wicket for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sherfane Rutherford, Good, positive running. On middle and leg, wristed away wide of the fielder at deep mid-wicket and Rutherford picks up a couple of runs.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Rovman Powell, Drags the length back, does Varun and bowls it on off, Powell rocks back and punches it down to long off for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Sherfane Rutherford, Good length on the pads, tucked away neatly through square leg for one more.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Rovman Powell, Dragged length, angled into middle and leg, nudged down through mid-wicket for one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Rovman Powell, A big appeal for LBW, turned down. Seemed like an inside edge but the captain has a word with the keeper. Oh, the review is taken. Varun Chakaravarthy bowls the googly, flatter and fuller on off and middle. Rovman Powell leans on to block but gets beaten on the inside edge and pinged on the front pad. The third umpire is called in, replays suggest that there is actually a fair bit of gap between bat and ball, which is also confirmed by UltraEdge. However, Ball Tracking comes up with wickets as umpire's call and Powell stays safe.

Will it be a change of ends for Varun Chakaravarthy or will we see Jasprit Bumrah continue? Suryakumar Yadav has turned to Varun Chakaravarthy once again.

Axar Patel to Rovman Powell, Drifted into the pads, Powell leans on and works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Axar Patel to Rovman Powell, Pushed through quicker on middle, Powell jams it out to covers.

Axar Patel to Sherfane Rutherford, Dragged length, angled across off, Rutherford gets into a bit of a tangle as he shuffles across and ends up scooping it behind square leg for a run.

Axar Patel to Sherfane Rutherford, Beaten! Flatter one, a touch full and around off, Rutherford looks to play a late dab but misses.

Axar Patel to Sherfane Rutherford, Shortish length outside off, cut away to the right of deep backward point for a couple of runs.

Axar Patel to Sherfane Rutherford, DROPPED AND SIX! A heart-in-the-mouth moment for Sherfane Rutherford but he gets away with it. Shorter in length, on leg, Rutherford rocks back and hoicks it flat towards deep mid-wicket. Tilak Varma is standing a fair bit inside the ropes and hurries back but ends up parrying it over the ropes for a six. How costly will this be?

An over of highest order from the Indian speedster as he removes Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase in the space of three balls. Axar Patel has been called back into the attack as he replaces Varun Chakaravarthy.

Jasprit Bumrah to Rovman Powell, Slants it into the batter, full and on middle. Rovman Powell watchfully drags his bat in front and smothers it back to the bowler.

Rovman Powell replaces Roston Chase in the middle.

Jasprit Bumrah to Roston Chase, OUT! TAKEN! Bumrah being the difference maker as he lands a double blow by removing both the set batters in the same over. A cunning off cutter by Bumrah, short of a good length, outside off and it spits up a bit as well. Roston Chase is flummoxed by the extra bounce and ends up hanging his bat away from his body. Chips it to the right of the cover fielder. Suryakumar Yadav throws himself and takes a fine catch being airborne. The timing of the leap is accurate from the Indian skipper. Some positive signs as India's catching efficiency hasn't been that great in this World Cup. From 102/1, West Indies slip down to 103/3.

Jasprit Bumrah to Sherfane Rutherford, In line of the stumps, on a hard length, Rutherford lets it arrive and taps it to the point region for a single.

Who walks out next for West Indies? One left-hander replaces another as Sherfane Rutherford walks in next.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shimron Hetmyer, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Bumrah wins the battle against Hetmyer and this is a huge, huge wicket in the context of the game. Bumrah slams the deck very hard, keeping the line of attack in thereabouts of the off pole. It lands and slightly nips back into the batter, not a big deviation though. Shimron Hetmyer rocks back, tries to access the leg side with the pull shot, but seems to have nicked it behind as Sanju Samson gathers a regulation chance. A big, confident appeal for caught behind and up goes the finger instantly. And Shimron Hetmyer is quicker to send it upstairs for a review. UltraEdge reveals a clear spike when the ball is next to the bat. Shimron Hetmyer looks a bit disappointed and the head coach Darren Sammy lets out his frustration as well in the dugout. A slow walk back for Hettie to the dressing room as West Indies are 102/2.

Has Jasprit got the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer? The umpire thinks so. It is the 6th time that Jasprit Bumrah has gotten the scalp of Shimron Hetmyer in T20 cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shimron Hetmyer, On a hard length, angling from leg to middle. Hetmyer presses back, and wrists it between mid-wicket and square leg for a couple of quick runs.

This is the battle we were all waiting for. Jasprit Bumrah up against Shimron Hetmyer.

Jasprit Bumrah to Roston Chase, Back of a length, outside off, Roston Chase arches back and dabs it to deep third for a single. 100 UP FOR WEST INDIES!

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shimron Hetmyer, And again! Waits for the short ball to arrive and eases it off the back foot through the vast open space at mid-wicket for two more runs. Good running! 17 runs from the over.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shimron Hetmyer, Drops it on a length, at 96.4 kph, on off, angling in. Shimron hangs back and nudges it through mid-wicket for two more.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shimron Hetmyer, FOUR! Through the gap! Short and outside off, Shimron Hetmyer uses the width, goes deep in the crease and cuts it past the cover fielder for a cracking boundary.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shimron Hetmyer, On a length, on middle, Hetmyer tucks it to deep mid-wicket and hares back for the second.

Shimron Hetmyer has taken the attack to the Indian bowlers from the moment he has stepped out.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Geez, that's muscled! And Ian Bishop on air informs that Shimron Hetmyer has now struck the most number of sixes in a single edition of a T20 World Cup. Short and angling in, Shimron Hetmyer positions himself well and nails the pull shot behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Roston Chase, Dishes a short ball, outside off, Chase presses back and pulls this to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, Length ball outside off, driven to sweeper cover for one.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, WIDE. Pandya is missing his mark again and again here. Chase pre-empts a bit and backs away early, Pandya tries to beat him with the slower, wider delivery but spills it beyond the tramline.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, WIDE. Full and bowled at nearly 136 kph, but spilled down the leg side for another extra. 11 off the over with one ball to go.

Hardik Pandya to Shimron Hetmyer, Looking for two but they won't get it. Short of a good length, Hetmyer hops up and tucks it down through the vacant space at mid-wicket and settles for the single.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, Another slower one, pitched up this time and flirting with the tramline outside off. Roston Chase taps it through extra cover for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, WIDE. Slower delivery, on a length and wide outside off. Chase backs away early and fails to reach it, but a wide is called.

Hardik Pandya to Shimron Hetmyer, Fuller this time, on off, driven down to long on for a single.

Hardik Pandya to Shimron Hetmyer, SIX! Hetmyer is just in that kind of form right now. Good-length delivery on middle, Shimron Hetmyer just clears the front leg and heaves it across the line, nailing it relatively flat over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

Hardik Pandya to Shimron Hetmyer, Just back of a length, over off and middle, Hetmyer stays compact and pats it back to Pandya.

Will we see Jasprit Bumrah into the attack against Shimron Hetmyer? It wouldn't be a bad ploy from India as Bumrah has dismissed him five times in T20s. Well, it is an Indian pacer but in the form of Hardik Pandya (2-0-21-0) to replace Axar Patel (3-0-25-0).

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shimron Hetmyer, Hetmyer is off the mark rightaway. Bowled from around the wicket, a tad short on off, Shimron Hetmyer goes deep in the crease and taps it across past square leg for one. Just 3 runs and a wicket off Varun's first over.

Out walks the in-form Shimron Hetmyer at 3 for the West Indies.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shai Hope, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Right through the defence and the ball has made a mess of the stumps here. Quicker delivery again from Varun Chakaravarthy, at 99.2 kph and it is the googly. Lands on off and darts back in. Shai Hope looks to block it off the back foot but plays across the line a bit and is well beaten. The ball skids on to smash into the stumps and the 68-run opening stand is broken. Shai departs after a slowish knock and West Indies won't mind losing him much at this stage given the firepower they have in the batting ranks.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shai Hope, Pushed through quicker, just outside off and this one turns away. Shai Hope looks to cut but misses.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Roston Chase, Flatter one, attacking the stumps, jammed down to long on for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Roston Chase, Half an appeal for LBW from the bowler, but the impact seems way outside off. Nagging length outside off, Chase lunges across to sweep it fine but misses and wears it on the pads.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Shai Hope, Dragged length on off, Hope rocks back and punches it down towards cover for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy does come on to bowl now, replacing Hardik Pandya.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, A good stop from the Indian skipper at extra cover to keep this down to one. Pushed through around off, Shai Hope punches this to the left of Suryakumar Yadav at extra cover. SKY puts in the dive and fields this, keeping it down to just one.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Floated around the pads, Shai Hope tucks this through the mid-wicket region and hustles back for the second here.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Fired into the batter, Shai Hope looks to create a bit of room by backing away but ends up hitting this back to the bowler.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Quicker and flatter on off, Shai Hope backs away and punches this to sweeper cover for two.

Axar Patel to Roston Chase, Full and on middle and leg, Roston Chase works this away in the gap down the ground for a run.

Axar Patel to Roston Chase, FOUR! Axar bowls this from a bit wide of the crease and darts this around off. Roston Chase brings out the reverse sweep and hits past the left of Jasprit Bumrah at short third for a boundary to start this over. Axar feels Bumrah could have done better there.

Time for Varun Chakaravarthy? No, not yet. Axar Patel to bowl three overs on the trot here, interesting.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, Good length, around off, Roston Chase dabs this gently to backward point for a single to end the over. 11 from it.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, SIX! 50 comes up for the Windies. Back of a length around off, Roston Chase stands tall and deep inside the crease, powers this over the fence and deep into the crowd at wide long on.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, Another one banged in short on off, Shai Hope this time, drops this in front of extra cover and rotates the strike.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, Short on off, slower than usual from Hardik. Roston Chase hops up on his toes and punches this through covers for a run.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, Chase misses a straight one. On a length around off, Roston Chase stands still and looks to punch this through the offside but gets beaten as he was a bit lazy in bringing his bat down.

Hardik Pandya to Roston Chase, Good length on top of middle and off, Roston Chase gets it away, high off his bat to sweeper cover for an easy couple of runs.

DRINKS! A bit of a sedate Powerplay from West Indies' point of view but they have laid down a platform. India have bowled decently thus far but no wickets inside the Powerplay means that the opposition have a bit more license in the middle overs. Varun Chakaravarthy will be key for India in the upcoming phase and so will skipper Shai Hope for West Indies, as he can anchor the innings from one end and allow those from the other end to attack. Let's see which team wrestles the momentum in its favor in the next few overs. Also, Hardik Pandya is back into the attack. He went for 10 runs in his first over.

Axar Patel to Roston Chase, Full and pushed through, on middle, Chase drives off the inner half and wide of mid on for a single. West Indies end their Powerplay with 45/0 on the board.

Axar Patel to Roston Chase, FOUR! Perfectly swept away! A length ball on off stump, drifting in a bit. Roston Chase takes a big stride across, gets down on one knee, and sweeps it behind square leg. The ball runs away to the boundary.

Axar Patel to Roston Chase, Slides in from a length, Chase dinks it back to the bowler.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Slower through the air, full and on middle, Shai Hope tries to work it through cover, but it keeps sliding in, takes the inside edge and squirts off the thigh pad to cover for a single.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Arm ball, in-angler on a length, Hope punches it to cover.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, FOUR! Shot! Outside off. Shai Hope does not try to muscle it, instead opens the face gently and guides it through point with soft hands, collecting a graceful boundary.

Axar Patel to continue? Yes, he will bowl the final over of the Powerplay.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shai Hope, Around off, on a length, Hope knocks it through backward point for a run.

Jasprit Bumrah to Roston Chase, STRAIGHT UP AND PUT DOWN! Goodness me, Abhishek Sharma has dropped an absolute dolly. At 121.9 kph, Jasprit Bumrah bowls an off cutter on a length outside off. Chase backs away to create room, looks to power it over mid off, but gets it off the toe end, slicing the miscue straight to extra cover. Abhishek Sharma has all the time in the world to settle under it and gather it, but it just bursts out of his hands and drops down. A single taken. Bumrah is shellshocked and so are the Indian fans. Deadpan faces in the Indian dugout as well. Big match pressure? But that should have been taken by all standards.

Jasprit Bumrah to Roston Chase, FOUR! Now that's quite audacious from Chase! A bit fuller and outside off, Roston Chase shuffles across the stumps and nails the scoop shot over short fine leg for a boundary.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shai Hope, Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope drives it to the left of the point fielder and calls his partner through for the single. Abhishek Sharma parries the ball to the cover fielder, Suryakumar Yadav, who collects the ball and throws it to the batting end, missing his shy.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shai Hope, On a back of a length, a change of pace as this is bowled at 120.2 kph. Hope is through his cut shot a bit early and chips it on the bounce to the point fielder.

Jasprit Bumrah to Shai Hope, Bumrah begins on a length, outside off, Hope punches it off the back foot to the cover fielder.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Bowled flatter on off, punched with the full face of the blade and down to long off for a single. Just 5 off the over, even with the boundary on the first ball.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Should have been put away! Slowed up a bit, on a shortish length and around off, Hope hops back and cuts it straight to point.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Three dots in a row now. Drifted into middle and leg, Shai Hope sits down and goes for the sweep but hits it straight to Arshdeep Singh at square leg.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Flighted ball around off, Hope looks to drive but gets an outside edge down to short third.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, Round-arm from Axar, drifted into middle, Shai Hope backs away to loft it over covers but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

A bit of halt in play! It looks like the physio is out to tend to Roston Chase. He removes his right pad. Looks in some sort of pain out there. Not exactly sure what happened though. The issue is sorted out eventually and Chase is good to continue for now.

Axar Patel to Shai Hope, FOUR! The boundaries are starting to flow now for West Indies. Short of a length and around off, Shai Hope hangs back and manipulates the bat face brilliantly to guide it away to the left of backward point and gets it through for four more runs.

Change in bowling. But no Bumrah yet. Spin introduced through Axar Patel. He replaces Hardik Pandya.

Arshdeep Singh to Roston Chase, FOUR! Even better and Chase is brimming with confidence. Too full and outside off, creamed along the turf and through the gap at covers for another boundary. 10 off the over again.

Arshdeep Singh to Roston Chase, FOUR! Finally, a stroke of some authority from Roston Chase. Slightly overpitched and on middle, no movement in the air or off the deck. Chase hits through the line and lifts it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Arshdeep Singh to Shai Hope, Back of a length again, slanted across off, Hope leans back and angles the cut shot down to deep backward point for a run.

Arshdeep Singh to Roston Chase, Back of a length, tight line on off, Chase looks to punch but gets an inside edge onto the back thigh pad. The ball lands onto the strip and they get a single.

Arshdeep Singh to Roston Chase, Oh, what's happened here? Should have been a run out but just like the batters, the fielder too has a brain-fade moment. Length ball outside off, driven on the up and into the turf, to the left of cover. The batters set off for the single but Shai Hope is ball-watching and turns back. Roston Chase is more than halfway through and has to scamper back but Varun Chakaravarthy throws it at the bowler's end.

Arshdeep Singh to Roston Chase, No room on offer. The in-between length, around the top of off, Roston Chase looks to drive but ends up pushing it down the pitch.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, FOUR! A boundary to end the over. On a length, around off, Shai Hope smashes this in the gap between cover and extra cover for a boundary. 10 runs from Hardik's first over.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, Hardik drags the length back, bowls it over the stumps. Shai Hope shimmies down the track and has a go at it but misses out and connects only with thin air.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, SIX! Smashed out of the park. Back of a length around middle and off, Shai Hope stays leg side to it and goes through with the slog. Gets it away from close to the middle of his bat and deposits this behind the deep mid-wicket fence for the first biggie of this contest.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, Frustration from Hope as he swings across the line. Hard length, wide of off, Shai Hope doesn't move his feet a lot and has a go at it as he looks to slog this across the line. Gets it edged from the bottom of his bat to Sanju Samson's left behind the stumps. Sanju gathers this with a dive.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, Right in the channel, on off, Shai Hope punches this firmly to extra cover.

Hardik Pandya to Shai Hope, On a length, around middle and leg, Shai Hope looks to flick it but gets cramped up and ends up pushing this around the silly mid on region.

A tidy start from Arshdeep. Hardik Pandya will operate from the opposite end.

Arshdeep Singh to Shai Hope, A tad full this time from Singh, wide of off. Shai Hope opens the face of his bat and guides this to deep third for a single to close the over. Just 3 from the opening over.

Arshdeep Singh to Shai Hope, Good length, shaping a hint away after pitching. Shai Hope uses the depth of the crease, rocks back and blocks this out.

Arshdeep Singh to Shai Hope, Arshdeep Singh hits the deck hard, bowls it in the line of the stumps. Shai Hope defends this off his back foot.

Arshdeep Singh to Roston Chase, Chase is off the mark with a single as well. On a length around middle and leg, Roston Chase stands his ground and drives this slightly to the left of the fielder at mid on for a quick single.

Arshdeep Singh to Shai Hope, Hard length, onto the pads, Shai Hope hops up on his toes and milks this through square leg to get off the mark with a single.

Arshdeep Singh to Shai Hope, Arshdeep Singh starts right on the money. Back of a length on middle and off, Shai Hope rocks back and blocks this to the off side. A dot to start this crunch contest.

Always a goosebumps inducing moment. Rally 'Round the West Indies and Jan Gan Man are proudly sung/chanted. It is now time to get down to real business in this virtual quarterfinal in the City of Joy. The Indian team gets into a huddle and Jasprit Bumrah pumps up his lads with a little pep talk. Now, they disperse to take their respective fielding positions. Legendary batter Matthew Hayden is given the honor of ringing the bell to mark the commencement of the game. A sea of blue at the Eden Gardens, with a few spots of maroon as it is a packed house. Shai Hope walks out with his new opening partner, Roston Chase. And it will be Arshdeep Singh to kick off the proceedings with the first over. A slip in place, and Hope to take the strike. Here we go!

The giant flags are unfolded in the middle, which brings about a loud, deafening cheer from the crowd. First, the match officials make their way out to the middle. Moments later, both captains lead their respective teams onto the field, walking through a burst of fireworks as they line up for the national anthems. It will be the cricket anthem of West Indies first, followed by the Indian national anthem.

These are the moments teams prepare for - The captain of West Indies, Shai Hope, mentions that they would have opted to bowl first as well. He underlines that playing consistent cricket remains the key focus for his side. With several players having experience in the IPL, he expresses hope that familiarity with conditions would help them come out on top. He describes the contest as a do-or-die, adding that these are the moments the team prepares for, competing against the biggest and best sides. He also confirms one change to the XI, with Akeal Hosein replacing Brandon King.

The aim is to put on an entertaining performance - The Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav, ​​​​​​observes that the surface looks good for batting. He notes that the venue has generally favoured teams chasing. Adds that the pitch tends to improve as the game progresses, with the dew factor coming into play as well, making it a preferable option. He further adds that the atmosphere in the dressing room is already electric and the team will aim to put on an entertaining performance for the crowd. Although he admits that there is a bit of pressure as well. Reflecting on the previous match, he mentions that the side had executed their plans well and ticked all the necessary boxes. Ends by confirming that they are going unchanged for this match.

India (Unchanged Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.

West Indies (Playing XI) - Shai Hope (C/WK), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein (In for Brandon King), Gudakesh Motie, and Shamar Joseph.

TOSS - It is coming down to toss time in Kolkata. Both the captains - Suryakumar Yadav and Shai Hope - are out for the coin flip. Ravi Shastri will lead the proceedings with his lively voice. SKY will spin the coin. Heads is the call from Hope. It lands as Tails. INDIA ELECT TO BOWL FIRST.

Just a quick update - At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, South Africa have beaten Zimbabwe by 5 wickets. Almost every batter contributed throughout the order, with Dewald Brevis' 42 off just 18 balls being the standout. And with crucial lower middle order contributions, the Proteas chased down 154 with relative ease, with 13 balls to spare. This marks Zimababwe's end of the journey in this World Cup. They impressed throughout the league phase, notably, beating a heavyweight team like Australia and also registering a superb win against Sri Lanka, and making it to the Super Eights for the first time.

PITCH REPORT - Former West Indies leg spinner, Samuel Badree, is pitchside. He straightaway starts by calling Eden Gardens as a classic six-hitting venue. About the dimensions, he informs that it is almost equidistant with the square boundaries being 64 meters and 65 meters and the straight hit being 73 meters. Also points out that the ball really flies here through the air and there is plenty of value for the shots along the ground. Details that this venue has one of the quickest outfields in the world. Now then, in walks the giant figure of Matthew Hayden, the Australian legend, for his deep analysis of the pitch. He observes a lot of live grass and after taking a closer look, he says that it is a dry deck, which means the ball is going to come onto the bat very nicely. Also shares that it looks like a wicket of two halves. Details that as you move down the pitch, the grass disappears around the good length area, which suggests that it may hold up a little for the pace off deliveries. Wraps up by saying that it will be a run fest.

The Proteas close to a win in the capital - Since it is a double-header Sunday, in the afternoon game, between Zimbabwe and South Africa, in Delhi, South Africa were asked to chase 154 and are within touching distance to maintain a spotless record in the tournament. When the last reports came in, they needed just 16 runs from the last 24 balls. So while we wait for the toss from this all-important clash at the Eden Gardens, you can switch tabs and follow the climax of that match.

All to play for in City of Joy - For India, the defending champions, this is about extending their reign and securing another semifinal appearance. For West Indies, it is about ending a long wait. They have not reached the knockouts since lifting the trophy in 2016 and will see this as a chance to script a return. History too, has an interesting say here. West Indies lead India 3-1 in T20 World Cup meetings, with India’s only victory in this rivalry coming back in 2014. With recent momentum on one side and historical advantage on the other, this promises to be a blockbuster battle.

Middle overs that could define the game - The middle overs might quietly decide where this contest heads. West Indies have set the pace in this phase, scoring at a tournament-best rate of 9.3 between overs 7 and 16. India, on the other hand, have made these overs their hunting ground with 22 wickets, the joint second most in the competition, with the highest dot ball percentage among all teams in this particular phase.

When the sky isn’t safe - A six-hitting spectacle is on the cards as two of the most explosive batting lineups prepare to lock horns. In this battle of towering hits, there is hardly anything to distinguish the two sides. West Indies lead the way with 66 sixes to their name, the most by any team in this World Cup, while India are breathing down their necks, sitting close second with 63. With such slender margins in the sixes column, this clash could very well boil down to the difference in the big hits on the day.

Virtual quarterfinal - In Game of Thrones, there is a recurring truth. When you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die. There is no middle ground. For tonight, that is no longer a metaphor. Three seats at the high table are already filled, as we await the fourth. House Proteas has marched from the South, unbeaten and unyielding. House Blackcaps has emerged from the mist to secure their stronghold. And from across the seas, the Three Lions of House England have roared their way into the final four. Behold House India, the High Lords of the realm, defending their crown. They meet the wild-fire of House Caribbean, the Kings of the Short Game, who have come to tear down the walls and claim the last seat at the table. Hello and welcome to the last Super Eight match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026, as India take on West Indies to complete the semifinal lineup.

... MATCH DAY ...

It’s crunch time - Virtual quarterfinal. That is what this contest has been labelled, and rightly so. After a dramatic chain of events, the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup arrive at their final stop before the semifinals. Fitting, perhaps, for a tournament that has refused to offer clarity till the very end, where even now, the identity of the final four could hinge on the last ball of this game. India versus West Indies. At the iconic Eden Gardens. With everything on the line. One spot up for grabs. Two teams are in contention. No second chances. Boy, this is going to be a delicious one. The Group 1 crucible - The competitive landscape of Group 1 underwent a significant shift following the matches on February 26. India kept their title defense alive by securing a comprehensive 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai, a result that notably improved their Net Run Rate from a previous deficit of -3.800. Meanwhile, the West Indies suffered a setback against the unbeaten Proteas, which halted their momentum and placed them in a direct points tie with the Men in Blue. Currently, both sides possess two points from two matches. While the West Indies maintain a superior Net Run Rate of +1.791 compared to India's -0.100, the winner-take-all nature of this final fixture renders the NRR calculations secondary for qualification. A victory for either side guarantees a semifinal berth alongside South Africa. India’s tactical reset - After a tumultuous start to the Super Eight, India's top order appears to have found its rhythm at a critical moment. The primary breakthrough for the management was the return to form of Abhishek Sharma, who dismantled the Zimbabwean attack in Chennai with a mature 30-ball 55. This innings followed a lean patch of three consecutive ducks and was characterized by technical discipline and a pure focus on hitting straight down the ground. Furthermore, India's middle order looked revitalized by the explosive flavor returning to the fore. The larger gain, however, lay in the opening partnership. Before that fixture, India’s highest stand at the top had been 25, with single digit efforts punctuating the innings around it. The 48-run association in quick time between Abhishek and Samson altered more than just the scoreboard. It changed the tempo of the innings. Strong starts in T20 cricket function as psychological cushions. They reduce decision strain on the middle order and allow power hitters to operate without the burden of repair. The batting stabilizers - If the top order has recently set the tone, the middle order has consistently protected it. That has been India’s underlying safety net in this campaign. Ishan Kishan and skipper Suryakumar Yadav have been the most productive, both crossing the 200-run mark and separated by the finest of margins. Their contributions have often arrived when the innings has threatened to drift. Alongside them, the presence of Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube has added a layer of stability that has quietly held the batting together. It is not always about standout knocks, but about absorbing pressure, stitching phases, and preventing collapses from deepening. In a tournament where volatility has been the norm, India’s middle order has functioned as a buffer, ensuring that setbacks do not spiral into breakdowns. Early strikes, early control - With an average economy hovering in the 6.5-7 range, the Indian bowling attack has more often than not made a strong impact inside the Powerplay itself. Only once (against Namibia) have they conceded more than 50 runs in the restrictions. A deeper dissection shows that the Men in Blue have picked up 12 wickets in the Powerplay phase in six completed matches this tournament. While Varun Chakaravarthy has been more expensive than usual in the last couple of games, he remains India's leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets. Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, has been virtually unplayable as his economy rate of 5.62 in this tournament speaks for itself. Add to that Arshdeep Singh’s three-wicket burst in the previous match, and India’s new-ball attack looks sharp, threatening, and ready to dictate terms yet again. The Caribbean flair - West Indies enter this match with a batting unit that is arguably the most explosive in the competition. Their philosophy is centered on boundary hitting and a deep lineup that allows them to take risks even when early wickets are lost. This resilience was perfectly demonstrated in their match against South Africa, where they recovered from a precarious 83/7 to post 176/8. The record eighth-wicket stand of 89 runs between Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd serves as a warning to India that the Caribbean side bats deep into their order. They have shown a penchant for massive totals in this tournament, highlighted by their 254 for 6 against Zimbabwe. This record-setting performance featured 19 sixes, matching the all time T20 World Cup record for a single innings. With the short square boundaries at Eden Gardens, the West Indian power hitters will look to exploit any lack of discipline in the Indian bowling, particularly during the middle overs where they have traditionally been most dangerous. Build big, back it better - West Indies have batted first five times out of six matches, and have succeeded on four occasions while defending their scores. The dominance has been so much so that their average first inning score has been in excess of 190. The only blemish came in the previous game against the Proteas, where their bowling attack was blown away in the wind. At the heart of their batting surge is Shimron Hetmyer. With 17 sixes, he leads the tournament by a distance in that column. Batting at number three, he has blurred the line between an aggressor and a finisher, ensuring the momentum never dips once West Indies get going. With Shai Hope in a decent nick, the Windies would want Brandon King to get among some runs as well. He hasn’t lit up the stage as yet and is due for a big score as well. Rally ‘round the quiet constant - One of the most dependable figures in the West Indian setup has been the tall, ever-composed presence of Jason Holder. In adversity and in ascendancy, he has remained a constant, quietly holding the side together with his all-round value and calm assurance. He may not boast the headline-grabbing scores, but his impact has been undeniable. Those quickfire cameos, 49 off 31 against South Africa, 13 off 4 against Zimbabwe, and 33 off 17 against England, have carried immense value in shifting momentum down the order. And with the ball as well, he has been just as effective. Standing tall (quite literally) as the second leading wicket taker for West Indies after Gudakesh Motie, his 8 wickets have often come at crucial moments, breaking partnerships in crucial times. Motie himself has been the assassin in that middle phase. With 10 wickets in his bag and the best of 4/28 in this World Cup, he averages 15.5, which is insane. He is just one wicket away from completing 50 T20I scalps. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - IND - WLWWW | WI - LWWWW. What do the numbers reveal? Eden Gardens has largely favoured batters this tournament, with only one first-innings total slipping below 160. Big scores have not been rare. Scotland piled up 207 against Italy, while England followed with 202 against the same opposition. Setting a target has proven to be the safer route, with four of the five matches here won by the team batting first. The average first-innings score sits just above 180, reinforcing the value of scoreboard pressure at this venue. India - 1. The Men in Blue have turned Eden Gardens into a fortress, winning seven of their eight T20Is here. 2. They are on a seven-match winning streak at this ground. 3. Their last defeat in a T20I at this venue dates back to 2011 against England. West Indies - 1. The Men in Maroon share iconic memories here, most notably their 2016 World Cup final triumph against England. 2. Their overall T20I record at the venue stands at three wins and four losses. 3. Against India at Eden Gardens, however, they are yet to register a win, having lost all four encounters.