West Indies Level Series Against India After Record-Breaking T20 Chase in Ranchi
West Indies leveled their five-match T20 international series against India at 1-1 following a historic six-wicket victory in Ranchi, overhauling a mammoth target of 250 with nine balls remaining. Guided by an unbeaten century from captain Shai Hope and an explosive half-century from Sherfane Rutherford, the tourists completed the second-highest successful run chase in Twenty20 history.
Following the defeat in Ranchi, India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that the team would examine their failure to defend the total rather than shrug it off.
Prior to the series, India led the head-to-head record with 20 wins out of 31 matches against West Indies.
Earlier on the tour, West Indies chased down 352 against India in New Chandigarh to record their highest successful ODI chase.
In 2023, the South Africa national cricket team chased 259 against West Indies, the highest successful T20I chase after the West Indies' own record.
India had earlier posted a formidable 249-5 in their twenty overs, driven by aggressive knocks from Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Despite the high total and heavy scoring inside the powerplay, the bowling attack struggled to contain the West Indian reply as dew set in at the venue.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford Power Historic Chase
Chasing 250 for victory, the West Indies suffered early setbacks when Mayank Yadav removed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer inside the powerplay. Shai Hope anchored the innings alongside Rovman Powell before launching a ferocious counter-attack. Hope finished unbeaten on 102 off 45 deliveries, striking nine sixes and six boundaries in his second T20 international century.
Sherfane Rutherford provided destructive support from the other end, contributing 84 runs off 37 balls with seven sixes and seven fours. The pair compiled a crucial 120-run partnership off 54 balls that turned the match decisively in favor of the visitors. Romario Shepherd added a quick-fire 34 off 13 balls to seal the victory in the nineteenth over.
Romario Shepherd batted at No. 5 after leaving the field with a niggle earlier, hitting an unbeaten 34 off just 13 balls with three fours and three sixes.
India Innings and Sunil Gavaskar Analysis
India's innings was built upon commanding top-order partnerships. Sanju Samson scored 82 off 41 balls, while Ishan Kishan contributed 43 off 22 deliveries as the hosts raced to 79-1 in the powerplay and brought up their hundred in the ninth over. Late contributions from Shreyas Iyer, who hit 40 off 18 balls, and Tilak Varma, who remained unbeaten on 44 off 18, pushed India to their eighth-highest T20 total.
Following the match, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar criticized India's bowling changes during the defense, specifically questioning the decision to hand the critical seventeenth over to spinner Kuldeep Yadav instead of retaining pace bowler Mayank Yadav. Kuldeep conceded 24 runs in the over, which shifted momentum toward the visitors. The five-match series moves to Indore for the third T20 fixture on Sunday.
Mayank Yadav was sidelined by recurring abdominal strain injuries that persisted after three and a half months of rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy.
Why the Ranchi chase was exceptional
West Indies reached a target of 250, a demanding rate of 12.5 runs per over across the full innings. Shai Hope's unbeaten century was central, but a successful pursuit also depends on partnerships, wickets in hand and how the batting side handles the final overs. The six-wicket victory levelled the five-match series at 1-1 rather than deciding it. A record chase should be compared with the same international format, not mixed with franchise T20 totals. The next match will test whether India's bowling response and West Indies' aggressive batting can be sustained.