India finally defended a total in this series — and it was enough to take the lead. Abhishek Sharma’s blazing 18-ball half-century and Arshdeep Singh’s three-wicket haul powered India to a 14-run victory over the West Indies in the third T20I at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, October 11.
Asked to bat first after West Indies won the toss, India were bowled out for 223 in exactly 20 overs. In reply, the West Indies could only manage 209 for 7, with Arshdeep striking with the new ball and yorking Sherfane Rutherford at the death. India now lead the five-match series 2-1. Arshdeep Singh was named Player of the Match for his all-round effort.
India’s innings: fire, then a wobble
West Indies’ call to bowl first looked shrewd when Shamar Joseph removed Sanju Samson for 3 in the second over. Then Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan took over. The pair smashed 108 for the second wicket, with Abhishek racing to an 18-ball fifty — the fastest by an Indian against the West Indies in T20Is — before finishing with 69 off 30 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes). Kishan blasted 37 off 18 as India raced to 115 for 1 in 8.1 overs.
The collapse was dramatic. Stumped off Roston Chase (2/38) in the ninth over, Kishan triggered a slide: India lost four wickets for 20 runs and ended the middle overs struggling at 135 for 5. Tilak Varma made 28 off 16 before a bizarre run-out mix-up with Axar Patel ended his stay, while Axar (20 off 14), Nitish Kumar Reddy (21 off 14), Arshdeep (11 off 8) and Prince Yadav (13* off 6) pushed India to 223 — their fourth-highest T20I total against the West Indies.
The chase: West Indies fall short
Chasing 224, the West Indies were pegged back straight away — Arshdeep bowled captain Shai Hope for 5 with the new ball, his poor run in the series continuing. Shimron Hetmyer (43 off 26) and Kamil Pooran (42 off 27) added 60 for the second wicket to steady the innings, but India kept striking through the middle overs. Naman Dhir (2/39) removed both Hetmyer and Pooran, Axar Patel (1/33) bounced back strongly from his expensive outing in Ranchi, and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/19) chipped in.
Rutherford — the hero of the record 250 chase in the second T20I in Ranchi — made 32 off 20 before Arshdeep yorked him. Shamar Springer launched a late 35 not out off 11 balls, but the equation was long out of reach and the West Indies finished on 209 for 7, with Roston Chase 5 not out.
Key performances
- Abhishek Sharma (69 off 30): Set the tone with an 18-ball fifty, the fastest by an Indian against the Windies in T20Is.
- Arshdeep Singh (3/44 & 11* off 8): Player of the Match — struck with the new ball and closed out the death with yorkers.
- Naman Dhir (2/39): Broke the Hetmyer-Pooran stand and kept the middle overs tight.
- Shamar Springer (2/50 & 35* off 11): The best all-round show for the West Indies, in a losing cause.
- Shimron Hetmyer (43 off 26): Top-scored for the visitors on a tricky low-bounce pitch.
Records and notes
- The first total successfully defended on this tour — the previous five matches had all been won by the chasing side.
- Abhishek’s 18-ball fifty is the fastest by an Indian vs West Indies in T20Is, beating the 21-ball efforts of Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson.
- The 108-run Abhishek-Kishan stand is India’s record second-wicket partnership against the West Indies and India’s ninth-highest second-wicket stand in T20Is.
- India’s 223 is their fourth-highest score against the West Indies and their second-highest T20I total at Indore.
- Unlike Ranchi, where dew played a massive role, Indore’s dry ball and low bounce made big hitting genuinely difficult.
What the 2-1 lead means
India are one win away from sealing the series. The teams meet again in the 4th T20I on October 14, and victory there would give India an unassailable 3-1 lead with a game to spare. The West Indies must win both remaining games to take the series — their record 250 chase in Ranchi proved the firepower is there, but chasing under pressure has twice eluded them on this tour.
FAQs
Who won the IND vs WI 3rd T20I?
India won by 14 runs — 223 all out vs 209 for 7 — at the Holkar Stadium, Indore.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Arshdeep Singh, for his 3/44 with the ball and an unbeaten 11 off 8 with the bat.
Who were the top scorers?
Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 69 off 30 for India; Shimron Hetmyer made 43 off 26 for the West Indies.
What is the series score now?
India lead the five-match series 2-1, with the 4th T20I scheduled for October 14.
What was special about Abhishek Sharma’s fifty?
His 18-ball half-century is the fastest by an Indian against the West Indies in T20Is.
Was this the first defended total of the tour?
Yes — the previous five matches on West Indies’ tour of India were all won by the team chasing.
Conclusion
After two matches dominated by the bat and the chasing side, Indore finally produced a defence. India’s 223 proved just beyond the West Indies on a low-bounce surface with no dew to help the batters. With a 2-1 lead in hand, India control the series — and if Abhishek keeps firing and Arshdeep keeps striking, the fourth game could settle it.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
