Shai Hope’s unbeaten century and Keemo Paul’s five-wicket haul power West Indies to victory in Hyderabad, levelling the five-match series 2-2.
West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in the fourth T20 International at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, to level the five-match series 2-2 and set up a thrilling decider in Bengaluru.
Captain Shai Hope led from the front with an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls, while Keemo Paul claimed a five-wicket haul to secure a memorable victory for the visitors.
West Indies posted a formidable 247, with Hope’s innings featuring four fours and nine sixes. Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford also contributed valuable runs as the visitors repeatedly punished India’s struggling bowling attack.
India’s bowlers found it difficult to contain the West Indies batters, with Prince Yadav the only bowler to emerge with relatively impressive figures, taking one wicket for 36 runs. The rest of the attack conceded runs at an expensive rate.
Hope powers West Indies to 247
Hope’s commanding century provided the foundation for West Indies’ imposing total. Having recently guided his team to a successful chase with another match-winning century, the captain once again demonstrated his ability to dominate high-pressure contests.
Hope said after receiving the Player of the Match award that his team had laid a strong foundation with the bat. He explained that although the players initially expected a flat pitch, the surface began holding up as the innings progressed, making the total of more than 240 runs a competitive score.
He also acknowledged the challenges bowlers face when attempting to maintain consistency over consecutive overs, particularly with dew affecting conditions.
Samson, Tilak and Reddy keep India in the hunt
India began their chase aggressively, with Sanju Samson smashing 56 off just 23 deliveries to give the hosts a flying start in pursuit of the massive target.
However, Keemo Paul changed the momentum by dismissing Samson and Ishan Kishan in the same over, leaving India under pressure at 67 for two. Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal at a crucial stage further complicated the chase.
Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy then combined in a counter-attacking partnership worth 70 runs, keeping India’s hopes alive. Their dismissals, however, left the hosts struggling to maintain the required scoring rate.
Gudakesh Motie also played a decisive role, removing Abhishek Sharma and Dhir in his two overs and forcing India to rebuild during the middle stages.
India continued to attack and managed to reach 220 despite losing wickets, but the target proved beyond their reach. The innings ended after Arshdeep Singh suffered a shoulder problem and was unable to continue, with West Indies sealing a 24-run win.
Keemo Paul claims five wickets
Paul was the standout performer with the ball, using yorkers and deliveries into the pitch to exploit the conditions.
Speaking after the match, the fast bowler said he was delighted with the victory and thanked the Almighty following his return to the national side. He praised the team’s leadership under Hope and described Motie’s contribution as crucial under pressure.
Paul added that the West Indies squad was coming together well and believed the team could defeat any opposition on its day.
India face questions over bowling
Indian captain Shreyas Iyer admitted that his side had failed to execute its bowling plans, particularly in terms of line and length.
Iyer praised the approach shown by his batters during the chase but acknowledged that the bowling performance had made the difference. He also credited West Indies for using their field placements effectively and adapting to a surface that offered some grip and bounce.
West Indies struck 16 sixes compared with India’s 13, while India’s bowlers conceded 18 extras. Those margins proved significant in a match decided by 24 runs.
Fifth T20I to decide the series
The victory gives West Indies renewed momentum after the final two matches became crucial to their hopes of avoiding a series defeat. With the contest level at 2-2, both sides now have everything to play for in the fifth and final T20I.
The series decider will take place at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The match is scheduled to begin at 7pm Indian Standard Time (1.30pm GMT).
India will look to address their bowling concerns before the decisive encounter, while West Indies will aim to carry their Hyderabad performance into the final match and clinch the series.