West Indies captain Shai Hope produced a sensational batting display, smashing 102 off just 45 balls to guide his side to a historic victory over India in the second T20I in Ranchi on Friday. Chasing a daunting target of 250, the visitors reached 252/4 with nine balls to spare, levelling the five-match series 1-1.
India and the West Indies will next meet in the third T20I in Indore on Sunday. Reflecting on the demanding chase, Hope highlighted the confidence teams carry when batting in India but acknowledged how hard it is to recover from an early collapse. Hope’s explosive century was the second-fastest T20I hundred by a West Indies batter, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 47-ball ton. Only Johnson Charles, who reached three figures in 39 balls, has scored a faster T20I century for the Caribbean side. Hope’s 45-ball century was also the joint-fastest T20I hundred against India, matching England’s Jacob Bethell, who achieved the feat during the 2026 T20 World Cup. He added that being reduced to 5/2 had made the task considerably more challenging. Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 82 off 41 balls, while Ishan Kishan contributed 43. Captain Shreyas Iyer added a quickfire 40 off 18 deliveries, and Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44 off 18 balls as India finished at 249/5. The result levelled the five-match T20I series at 1-1.
“When you chase here in India, you always give yourself a chance,” Hope said after the match.
Earlier, India put on a formidable total after being asked to bat first.
