Bengaluru: For one night, even a packed M. Chinnaswamy Stadium could not beat the Bengaluru rain. The series-deciding fifth T20I between India and the West Indies was abandoned on Saturday without a result, and the five-match series finished level at 2-2.
India had given the crowd plenty to cheer about in a rain-shortened nine-over contest, racing to 118 for 5 in 7.4 overs before the skies opened once more and the umpires called the players off for the final time. The West Indies never got to begin their chase, and handshakes replaced boundaries as both teams shared the series honours.
Fireworks first, then the floodgates
This was meant to be a night of high stakes, and for a brief spell it looked like one. The match, the first international fixture at the Chinnaswamy in two years, had already been delayed by more than two hours of rain and a wet outfield before West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to bowl.
What followed was nine-over mayhem. India blasted their way to the fastest team fifty in men’s T20I history in just 2.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma fell early for 6 to Keemo Paul, but Ishan Kishan tore into the attack with a stunning 30 off 10 balls, and Naman Dhir finished with an unbeaten 24 off six deliveries, including three towering sixes. Captain Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 22 before the weather had the final say.
At 118 for 5 in the 7.4th over, with Tilak Varma back in the pavilion, another bout of heavy rain swept across the ground. With conditions refusing to improve, officials called the match off. Had the weather cooperated, the West Indies would have chased a five-over target of roughly 84 to 85.
A comeback denied by the weather
The night had a subplot that deserved better than a washout. India made two changes to their side, bringing in Shivam Dube and veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Mayank Yadav. For Bhuvneshwar, it was a return to the India XI after nearly four years, but the rain denied him the chance to mark his comeback with the ball.
His story does not end here. The 36-year-old has been recalled to the national squad for India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, beginning October 22, and this week could yet see him back in action in international colours.
How the series finished 2-2
- 1st T20I, Lucknow: India won by 8 wickets
- 2nd T20I, Ranchi: West Indies won by 6 wickets
- 3rd T20I, Indore: India won by 14 runs
- 4th T20I, Hyderabad: West Indies won by 24 runs
- 5th T20I, Bengaluru: Abandoned due to rain, series drawn 2-2
Earlier in the tour, India had also clinched the ODI series 2-1, so the visitors leave India with a share of the T20 honours but still hunting a bilateral series win on Indian soil. Their last series victory against India in India remains the famous 4-3 ODI triumph from way back in 2002, more than two decades ago.
What next
India’s attention now turns to the tour of New Zealand, which begins on October 22 and features both white-ball and red-ball legs. The squad will regroup in the coming days, with several young players having strengthened their cases during this rollercoaster home series. For the West Indies, the drawn series on Indian soil is a result they can build on as their white-ball project gathers momentum.
FAQs
Why was the IND vs WI 5th T20I abandoned?
Persistent rain returned after 7.4 overs of India’s innings and refused to relent, forcing the umpires to call off the match without a result.
What is the final result of the IND vs WI T20 series?
The five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw after the Bengaluru decider was washed out.
Why was the match reduced to nine overs per side?
More than two hours of rain and a wet outfield delayed the start, leaving time for only a nine-over contest.
Who was India’s top scorer in the match?
Ishan Kishan smashed 30 off 10 balls, while Naman Dhir hit an unbeaten 24 off six deliveries.
What is next for the Indian team?
India begin their tour of New Zealand on October 22, which includes ODIs and a two-Test series.
Rain, then, got the final word in this one. But Bengaluru still got nine overs of mayhem, and a series that neither side could lose, and neither could win.
