West Indies captain
The innings was a masterclass in consistency and power, marking the second time in the current series that the skipper has reached triple figures. Remarkably, all three of Hope’s T20I centuries have been unbeaten scores of exactly 102. With this performance, he has moved clear of fellow West Indies greats Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, who each hold two centuries in the format, while Johnson Charles and Rovman Powell have recorded one apiece.
A Milestone Night for the West Indies Captain
Beyond his century, Hope reached another significant personal landmark during the final moments of the innings. By striking a six off the very last ball, he surpassed the 2,000-run threshold in T20 Internationals. This achievement places him in elite company, as he becomes only the fourth West Indies batter to reach 2,000 runs in the format, joining the ranks of Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran, and Brandon King.
The West Indies innings was defined by aggressive intent from the outset. Jewel Andrew set the tone with a quick 21 off 16 balls before falling to Axar Patel. Shimron Hetmyer then provided a blistering cameo, contributing 33 runs from just 12 deliveries—a knock that included four boundaries and two sixes—before being dismissed by Prince Yadav. Rovman Powell added a steady 24 off 17 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford provided the perfect finish, remaining unbeaten on 49 from 26 balls to ensure the team maintained their high scoring rate until the end.
The visitors' batting display saw them reach 79/1 during the powerplay, equalling the joint-highest powerplay score ever recorded against India in T20Is. Furthermore, the team reached the 100-run mark in just 7.4 overs, matching the record for the fastest team century against India in this format. India’s bowling attack found little relief, with Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh both conceding 52 runs in their respective four-over spells, while Prince Yadav and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each.
