India can seal the T20I series in Hyderabad as West Indies fight to stay alive

India need one win in Hyderabad to take the T20I series with a match to spare, while West Indies must win to force a decider in Bengaluru

India and West Indies meet in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday with the hosts 2-1 up in the five-match series. Victory settles it; defeat sends the tour to a decider at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 17 October.

The series has been an argument between bat and ball that the bat has mostly won. West Indies chased 250 in Ranchi, the second-highest successful chase in men's T20I history, and India answered in Indore by defending 223 — the only win for a side batting first in six matches on this tour.

Shreyas Iyer was careful not to read too much into that result. "West Indies, you can never take them lightly," India's captain said at the presentation in Indore. "So, we had to make sure we never got complacent."

Indore shifts the balance

India's 14-run win was built on a start the visitors never matched. Abhishek Sharma made 69 from 30 balls, reaching fifty in 18 deliveries, and became the fastest man to 2,000 T20I runs by balls faced, getting there in 1,024 — 140 fewer than Suryakumar Yadav's previous mark of 1,164.

Ishan Kishan's 37 from 18 balls kept the rate up before India were bowled out for 223 in 20 overs.

Arshdeep Singh then took three wickets and was named player of the match as West Indies closed on 209 for 7, their chase never quite in range.

It was the first time on the tour India had successfully defended a total, having won the opener in Lucknow by eight wickets after bowling West Indies out for 171.

Another ground built for runs

Hyderabad brings a recently relaid surface, short boundaries and a history of enormous scores. India made 297 for 6 against Bangladesh here in October 2024, at the time the highest T20I total by a Full Member nation.

Totals of 310, 297, 286 and 277 have been posted at the ground over the past two years, and T20I chases of 208 and 187 have been completed successfully.

The square offers consistent bounce and a fast outfield, with the new ball under lights the clearest window for the seamers before spin takes over in the middle overs.

The toss and the dew

Dew has shaped this tour more than any bowling plan. Only one of the six completed matches across the ODIs and T20Is has gone to the side batting first.

After the Ranchi defeat Iyer put the problem plainly. "You cannot put a number to it because when the dew factor comes in it becomes difficult," he said, having watched 249 overhauled with nine balls to spare.

The toss is at 6:30 PM IST, and the side that wins it is widely expected to bowl.

Selection questions on both sides

India went into Indore with an extra seamer in place of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and may keep that combination on a surface expected to favour stroke play.

Romario Shepherd picked up an injury while bowling in Ranchi, batted in that match and was left out in Indore. West Indies have not confirmed whether he is available in Hyderabad.

Amir Jangoo joined the touring squad on 5 October as cover for Jewel Andrew, who hurt a finger in the third ODI.

West Indies need another Hope special

Shai Hope produced the innings of the series in Ranchi, an unbeaten 102 from 45 balls with nine sixes, adding 120 in 54 balls with Sherfane Rutherford, who made 84 from 37.

"I really believe we need to bat in partnerships," Hope said afterwards. West Indies have lost three of their last five T20 matches; India have won four of theirs.

Roston Chase took 3-24 in Ranchi and will again be asked to slow an Indian top order that has scored at speed throughout, with Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell carrying the visitors' power through the middle.

The fourth T20I begins at 7:00 PM IST, with the decider, if West Indies force one, in Bengaluru on 17 October.

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