Shreyas Iyer's 42-ball century powers India to eight-wicket win over West Indies in first T20I

Captain Shreyas Iyer produced a stunning display of power-hitting in Lucknow on Tuesday, smashing an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first T20I of their five-match series.

Chasing 172, India reached the target in only 14.4 overs with 32 balls to spare, after Iyer turned a potentially tricky chase into a one-sided contest. His century came from 42 balls and included 10 fours and six sixes.

It was Iyer’s first T20I century and his highest score in the format, surpassing his previous best of 80 not out against England earlier this year. He became only the third Indian captain to score a men’s T20I hundred, after Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, and his 42-ball effort is the fastest T20I century by an Indian against West Indies, beating KL Rahul’s 46-ball ton in 2016.

India had slipped to 35 for two after losing Abhishek Sharma for 21 and Sanju Samson cheaply, but Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who made 37 off 27 balls, wrested control with an unbroken 137-run partnership off 67 deliveries.

Earlier, debutant Naman Dhir claimed three for 31 as West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs. Shai Hope, dismissed for 52, and Sherfane Rutherford, out for 56, shared a 63-run fourth-wicket stand, but Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each to keep the visitors in check.

India lead the five-match series 1-0.

Sources: Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/sports/cricket/india-beat-west-indies-by-eight-wickets-first-t20-2026-10-06/); Mathrubhumi (https://english.mathrubhumi.com/sports/cricket/shreyas-iyer-century-india-west-indies-first-t20i-jpbj2b3p)