India vs West Indies Live Score: West Indies in India, 5 T20I Series, 2026 Live Updates and Ball-By-Ball Commentary

We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game.

West Indies (Playing XI) - Shai Hope (C/WK), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Springer, and Shamar Joseph.

India (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh.

The skipper of West Indies - Shai Hope says he would have bowled first as well, feeling it is always better to chase in India, considering the dew factor, while the wicket also tends to get better as the game progresses. He stresses that adapting to the conditions will be key.

The captain of India - Shreyas Iyer decides to bowl first, citing the reason as the surface, which is a mixed-soil surface and they are anticipating some dew later on as well.

TOSS - It is time for the coin to go up in Lucknow. 'Heads' is the call from Shai Hope, but it has come down as a Tail. India opt to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Ian Bishop starts by saying that the climatic conditions are pretty cool and the outfield seems lightning quick, with very low-cut grass. Bishop also informs that the ground staff have used anti-dew spray to make it an even contest. Bishop then goes on to talk about the dimensions, saying that the square boundaries are 64 meters on either side, and the straight hit is 74 meters. Abhinav Mukund joins Bishop out in the middle and gives insights on the actual playing surface, mentioning that this venue is one of the most difficult ones to read because the pitch has a mixture of black and red soil in a 25-75 per cent ratio. Mukund also feels that the spinners will be in play and the side batting first has a good chance of winning, but chasing is still the way to go. He ends by saying that it looks like a 170-180 kind of surface.

Debut alert - Naman Dhir is all set to make his T20I debut.

End of an era - In case you missed it, earlier today Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down as India's captain across all three formats. It brings the curtain down on a decade-long leadership journey that began when she took over as T20I captain in 2016, before going on to lead India across formats. During her tenure, she led India to three Asia Cup titles, two Asian Games gold medals and, most notably, their maiden ODI World Cup triumph in 2025. She also became the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a side in more than 150 T20Is.

A different beast in T20s - West Indies have never beaten India in a T20I series in India, but the Men in Maroon will draw confidence from their performances earlier in the year at the T20 World Cup. T20Is are undoubtedly their strongest of the three formats, and with stars like Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd present in their ranks, they will believe that they have it in them to challenge India.

What will be India's opening combination? That has been a question of real intrigue ever since Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has come into the mix. At the Asian Games, all three, Samson, Vaibhav and Abhishek, found a way into the XI, forming the top order between them. Most signs do point to India reverting to the tried and tested pairing of Abhishek and Samson at the top, with Vaibhav having to wait for his next opportunity. On the pace bowling front, it is an opportunity for the likes of the two Yadavs, Mayank and Prince, to impress and stake their claim for a regular spot in the XI with bigger assignments on the horizon.

Muskuraiye, aap Lucknow mein hain - A phrase that translates to 'Smile, you are in Lucknow,' one you will likely spot the moment you step off the plane. Known for its warmth, its culture, and its timeless charm, the city of Nawabs has always had a way of making you feel right at home.

... MATCH DAY ...

A new chapter begins in Lucknow - India and West Indies begin their five-match T20I series at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, with both sides arriving with plenty of confidence but also a point to prove. India may have taken the ODI series 2-1, but West Indies finished strongly by winning the third game and showed throughout the series that they have enough quality to trouble the hosts. In fact, they may feel they left an even bigger opportunity behind after India chased down more than 400 in the second ODI, with the West Indies bowling attack unable to defend what was the first 400-plus ODI total in their history. Now, with both teams moving into a different format and India bringing a considerably changed squad, the focus shifts to who can make the quicker adjustment. Changed yet lethal - India arrive with the confidence of having just won gold at the 2026 Asian Games, beating Pakistan in the final, and there is plenty of momentum around this group. The personnel may look different without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, but the depth of India's T20 setup means the reigning T20 World Champions still have an intimidating amount of quality. Abhishek setting the tone - Abhishek Sharma is arguably the player to watch after an extraordinary run of form. He smashed a 30-ball hundred against Afghanistan, the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation, and finished that series as Player of the Series after scoring 229 runs at a staggering strike rate of 269.41. He carried that momentum straight into the Asian Games final, where his 61 off just 28 balls proved crucial in India's victory over Pakistan. If he can reproduce anything close to that level of aggression, West Indies could find themselves under pressure very early in the innings. Sooryavanshi ready for the next step - There is perhaps no teenager in world cricket generating more attention right now than Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His T20I sample remains small, but a strike rate of 186.36 tells its own story, and his ability to complement Abhishek at the top gives India another explosive option. The next challenge is turning those quick starts into substantial scores more consistently. What has stood out, though, is his team-first mindset, something that underlines the maturity he has already shown despite his age. Plenty more waiting behind them - Sanju Samson has seen his form dip slightly after consecutive fifties in the Afghanistan series, but there is no doubting the quality he possesses. And if the top three fail to make an impact, India have arguably their most in-form T20 batter waiting in Ishan Kishan. Kishan became only the second Indian batter after Suryakumar Yadav to cross 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year, while his unbeaten 80 off 46 against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-final was another reminder of how much his game has developed. That innings came on a turning surface where most batters struggled, making his ability to adapt particularly impressive. Shreyas Iyer's recent form is a slight concern, but his influence goes beyond his own runs. As captain, his tactical awareness and leadership will be vital in a side packed with attacking options. His deputy Tilak Varma, meanwhile, produced a crucial fifty against Pakistan in the Asian Games final, and pressure situations have often brought the best out of him. Firepower all the way down - India's depth does not stop with the top order. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube give the middle and lower order plenty of power, with Reddy also providing a valuable bowling option after taking back-to-back three-wicket hauls against Afghanistan. Dube has also shown that he can chip in with wickets, although keeping his economy under control will remain important. Axar Patel now has greater responsibility as the team's finger-spin all-rounder following Washington Sundar's withdrawal from the squad to prepare for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Naman Dhir has been called up as his replacement and could be in line for a T20I debut during the series. There is also plenty of variety in India's spin department. Kuldeep Yadav, who was highly effective in the ODI series against West Indies, brings his left-arm wrist-spin option, although this will be his first T20I appearance for India since the T20 World Cup at the start of 2026. Ravi Bishnoi provides another leg-spin option, though his recent returns have been less convincing but his record at this stadium is a good one, having picked up 20 wickets in T20s. India could also turn to Abhishek's off-spin if they want to strengthen another area of the XI. The pace attack needs no introduction - There is little that needs to be said about Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Bumrah will be expected to do what Bumrah does, while Arshdeep will be eager to make his mark after not getting a game during the Asian Games, where the slower surfaces in Japan meant India opted against using him. There could also be an opportunity for the next wave. Mayank Yadav's express pace gives India something completely different, while Prince Yadav has built a reputation around his accurate yorkers. Either could make a statement if handed an opportunity. It is, quite simply, a stacked squad from top to bottom, and one that underlines why India currently sit at the summit of the T20 game. Windies looking to turn potential into results - West Indies once ruled this format, winning the T20 World Cup twice, but the retirement of several of their biggest stars, including Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, has seen them lose some of that aura. Yet the talent has never disappeared, and Darren Sammy has a squad capable of causing serious problems if everything clicks. The ODI series offered plenty of encouragement. Shai Hope will be particularly high on confidence after producing back-to-back hundreds, including a sensational unbeaten 162 in the third ODI. As captain and one of their most reliable batters, he will once again be central to their hopes. Amir Jangoo also enjoyed an outstanding ODI series, scoring two fifties and a hundred across the three matches. The challenge now is carrying that form across formats. A chance to make a statement - Shimron Hetmyer arrives after an excellent Caribbean Premier League campaign, where he scored 367 runs in 12 innings, including a hundred in Qualifier 2 against Jamaica Kingsmen, although his effort came in a losing cause. Rovman Powell was another key contributor, scoring 261 runs as Jamaica reached the CPL final, while Kamil Pooran's 273 runs in only eight innings earned him a call-up to the national side. He is now in line for a T20I debut. Sherfane Rutherford, meanwhile, is going through a lean patch, but he remains the kind of batter who can change a match almost instantly when he gets going. Quentin Sampson and Jewel Andrew add further options, while Romario Shepherd brings considerable experience and arrives as a two-time IPL winner with RCB. Roston Chase and Keemo Paul also give the side useful all-round depth, with Paul back in the T20I setup after last playing for West Indies in the format in 2022 following a strong run of domestic performances. Shamar Springer adds another option with the ability to contribute with both bat and ball. Battle with the ball - Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph are expected to lead the pace attack, while Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein provide the spin options. Hosein could be particularly interesting on this surface. His ability to operate with the new ball could bring him into direct confrontation with India's aggressive openers, especially if West Indies decide to attack early rather than simply wait for the pitch to dictate terms. A look at the conditions - The Ekana Stadium is unlikely to offer a straightforward batting paradise, with the average first-innings score sitting around 173 and the surface tending to be on the slower side. That could bring the spinners and change-of-pace bowlers into the game, while batters will need to find the right balance between aggression and shot selection. There is also a little bit of history between these sides here. The first-ever T20I played at the Ekana Stadium was between India and West Indies in 2018, with the hosts coming out on top. India will be hoping the venue once again proves a happy hunting ground. History favours the Men in Blue - India hold a sizeable advantage in the overall T20I head-to-head, winning 20 of the 31 meetings between the sides, with West Indies claiming 10 and one ending without a result. However, the visitors can point to the most recent series between the two sides, which they won 3-2 in 2023. A lot has changed since then, particularly for India, but that result is a reminder that West Indies know how to compete against them in this format. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - IND - WWWWW | WI - WLWLL. Who strikes first? Both sides have plenty at stake as they look to start the five-match series on the right note. India will want to carry their recent momentum into a new-look T20 setup, while West Indies will be determined to turn the promise they have shown into a complete performance. With conditions in Lucknow likely to test the batters and keep the bowlers interested, the side that adapts quicker could have the early edge. The stage is set, and we could be in for a fascinating start to the series.