India beat West Indies by 8 wickets in 1st T20I in Lucknow
West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs in the 1st T20I in Lucknow after India chose to field. India replied with 172/2 in 14.4 overs to win by 8 wickets, with debutant Naman Dheer returning 3/31.
West Indies’ first-innings wobble continued deep into the death overs in Lucknow on Tuesday night, with the visitors bowled out for 171 (19.1 overs) in the opening T20I of the five-match series before India chased down the target to win by 8 wickets.
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 171 | 19.1 |
| India | 172/2 | 14.4 |
Data last updated: 6 October 2026, 10:40 PM IST
India won the toss and chose to field, a call shaped by the expectation of dew later in the evening. With the West Indies losing wickets late, the innings became a test of nerve and running between the wickets rather than the clean hitting the format usually promises.
The match is being played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. On-field umpiring duties are being handled by Nitin Menon and Virender Sharma, with Rohan Pandit as TV umpire. Jayaraman Madanagopal is the reserve umpire and Prakash Bhatt the match referee.
Live scoring through the evening also showed how quickly the game was moving. At one point earlier in the innings, West Indies were 82/3 after 10 overs, before losing further wickets as the innings progressed.
Iyer’s call, Dheer’s debut
India captain Shreyas Iyer opted to bowl first after winning the toss, citing the likelihood of dew and describing the surface as mixed. Reports from the ground also noted his reference to the pitch’s red-and-black soil composition.
The first match of the series also brought a fresh cap. Naman Dheer made his T20I debut for India, adding to a night that already carried the feel of a reset after India’s recent ODI series win over the same opposition. Dheer also finished with 3/31.
There were omissions too. Vaibhav Suryavanshi missed out on the playing XI, and reports said Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Reddy and Prince Yadav were among those left out.
The build-up to the game carried a broader storyline about India’s changing T20I mix. The squad has recently returned from the Asian Games, where India defended the gold medal, and the team has been in transit in the days leading into this series.
What the series looks like
Tuesday’s opener is the first of five T20Is scheduled on this tour, which follows a three-match ODI leg. India won that ODI series 2-1.
The T20I schedule moves quickly from here, with the next fixtures listed as:
- 2nd T20I: Friday, 9 October 2026 – Ranchi (JSCA International Stadium Complex)
- 3rd T20I: Sunday, 11 October 2026 – Indore (Holkar Stadium)
- 4th T20I: Wednesday, 14 October 2026 – Hyderabad
- 5th T20I: Saturday, 17 October 2026 – Bengaluru
For West Indies, the immediate task is to stretch their innings deeper and push totals high enough to keep India honest under lights. India, for their part, will be looking to turn control with the ball into another chase they can close out early.
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