IND vs WI T20: Sarpanch Destroys WI! Nightmare Begins?

Shreyas Iyer Ton Powers India to Victory

Team India started the T20I series against West Indies with a complete performance in Lucknow.

This was not a flat pitch where the batters could simply hit through the line. India bowled well, took some excellent catches and then chased down 172 with eight wickets and 32 balls to spare.

West Indies were bowled out for 171 after being asked to bat first. Shai Hope scored 52 off 37 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford added 56 off 34 balls.

But India kept taking wickets at important moments and did not allow the West Indies batters to take the game away.

Naman Dhir was one of the biggest positives with the ball. Playing his first T20I for India, the 26 year old picked up three wickets for 31 runs.

Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel took two wickets each, while Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh picked up one apiece. India also take some great catches in the field, making it a strong all-round bowling and fielding performance.

Chasing 172, India started quickly with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Abhishek smashed 21 off 10 balls before Roston Chase dismissed him, while Sanju Samson made 11 before Aqeel Hossain got his wicket.

But once Shreyas Iyer arrived, the game completely changed. The Sarpanch turned the Lucknow ground into a nightmare for the West Indies bowlers. He reached his half century in 28 balls and then went from 50 to 100 in just 15 more balls.

Shreyas Iyer completed his first T20I century with a six and finished unbeaten on 102 off 43 balls, hitting 10 fours and six sixes. Ishan Kishan supported him with an unbeaten 37 off 27 balls as India finished the chase in just 14.4 overs.

This was not just a batting show from India. The bowlers did their job, the fielders backed them up and then the captain finished the game in style.

India will now look to carry the same momentum into the second T20I against West Indies. After such a complete performance in the opening game, the pressure will be on the visitors to find answers quickly.