Bengaluru, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The long wait for international cricket to return to Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after two years ended in disappointment as rain forced the abandonment of the fifth and final T20I between India and the West Indies on Saturday. The washout meant the five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw.
The match was called off at 10:16 p.m. after India had reached 118/5 in 7.4 overs. With no possibility of the West Indies completing a five-over chase of 84 runs before the 10:21 p.m. cut-off, the players exchanged handshakes and hugs as the series concluded without a winner.
The result denied the West Indies an opportunity to secure their first series victory in India since 2002. However, the visitors could take encouragement from their competitive performances over the past three weeks, across both the ODI and T20I formats.
A complete match had always looked uncertain given the weather forecast. Although the probability of rain reportedly dropped from 70 per cent to 30 per cent during the morning, persistent drizzle in the evening prevented the ground staff from preparing the venue in time, delaying the scheduled toss at 6:30 p.m.
The rain finally eased around 8:30 p.m., allowing the toss to take place and the match to be reduced to nine overs per side, with play scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m.
The crowd, which had waited patiently for hours, witnessed only a brief burst of action. Ishan Kishan provided the early fireworks with a blistering 30 off 10 balls, while Naman Dhir struck an unbeaten 24 before rain returned to bring the contest to an end.
Drizzle resumed midway through India’s innings and intensified shortly after Shamar Springer bowled Tilak Varma in the eighth over. The umpires subsequently ordered covers to be placed over the pitch and square, and the weather ultimately prevented play from resuming.
Asked to bat first, India made two changes, bringing in Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his first appearance in 1,437 days and Shivam Dube in place of Mayank Yadav. Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out due to illness.
India faced early challenges as Keemo Paul extracted movement with the new ball. However, the all-rounder briefly lost control, overstepping before conceding five wides down the leg side in the same over.
Abhishek Sharma swung and missed at the resulting free hit but responded by launching the next delivery over deep mid-wicket for six. His innings was short-lived, though, as he flicked the following ball straight to Shamar Joseph at mid-wicket and departed for six.
Top-ranked T20I batter Kishan then took charge, smashing 24 runs off a wayward Romario Shepherd over. His innings included a spectacular scoop, played on one knee over fine leg, that cleared the Chinnaswamy Stadium roof.
Shamar Joseph eventually dismissed Kishan, who was caught at mid-on off a cleverly disguised slower delivery. Sanju Samson maintained the momentum, helping India reach their fastest team fifty in T20Is in just 2.5 overs before uppercutting a wide delivery for six.
Springer struck with his first delivery, sending Samson’s off stump cartwheeling as the batter departed for 16. Shreyas Iyer then scored 22 off 14 balls, surviving a run-out opportunity and a dropped catch by Sherfane Rutherford before miscuing a shot off Paul to be caught at deep mid-wicket.
Dhir supplied the late fireworks, scoring 16 runs off his first three deliveries against Paul, including two sixes and a four. He remained unbeaten on 24 off just six balls. Paul finished with figures of 2-34, while Springer claimed 2-17.
India had reached 118/5 in 7.4 overs when the rain returned, ultimately ensuring that the series-deciding contest ended without a result.
Brief Scores:
India: 118/5 in 7.4 overs (Ishan Kishan 30, Naman Dhir 24 not out; Shamar Springer 2-17, Keemo Paul 2-34) against the West Indies.
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