The series  decider match called off in Bengaluru levels at  2-2, West Indies captain Shai Hope won the Player of the Series award following a dominant batting performance

Bengaluru (Vatsal Verma) : The five-match T20I series between India and West Indies ended 2-2 after the series decider at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday was abandoned due to rain. The final game was reduced to nine overs per side, but only 7.4 overs could be bowled. Batting first, India posted 118 for 5 before rain returned and forced the match to be called off, leaving the series shared. West Indies skipper shines with 261 runs in four innings with two explosive centuries as both teams share honours in the five-match T20I series.  West Indies captain Shai Hope produced a sensational batting performance to win the Player of the Series award after the fifth and final T20I against India was abandoned due to rain at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. The washout left the five-match series level at 2-2, with both teams sharing the honours.  Hope was the standout performer of the series, scoring 261 runs in four innings at an outstanding average of 130.50, establishing himself as one of the most influential batters of the contest. His remarkable consistency and aggressive stroke play played a crucial role in West Indies’ impressive showing against the reigning T20 World Cup champions. He also registered four centuries during this limited over tour against India.

The series decider was expected to deliver an exciting finish, with India and West Indies entering the final encounter level at 2-2. However, persistent rain repeatedly interrupted proceedings, delaying the toss and forcing the match to be reduced to nine overs per side. West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first. India responded with an explosive batting display, reaching 118 for five in just 7.4 overs before rain returned and brought the action to a halt. Ishan Kishan provided a quick start with 30 runs off just 10 deliveries, while Naman Dhir added late fireworks with an unbeaten 24 off six balls. Despite the brief burst of action, the weather prevented West Indies from beginning their chase, and the umpires eventually called off the match.  Although the final match could not produce a result, Hope’s performances throughout the series ensured that he remained the central figure in the West Indies campaign. The Caribbean captain demonstrated excellent technique, composure under pressure and the ability to score quickly against India’s bowling attack. His contributions provided stability and firepower to the West Indies batting line-up, while his leadership helped the visitors remain competitive throughout the series. Despite missing the opportunity to secure a series victory in India, West Indies can take considerable encouragement from their performance. The visitors challenged the hosts across the five-match contest and demonstrated their ability to compete against one of international cricket’s strongest teams.

The 2-2 result also highlighted the competitive nature of the series, which featured aggressive batting and important contributions from players on both sides. For India, the abandoned decider meant that the team could not clinch the series outright on home soil. For West Indies, the result represented a hard-fought share of the honours, with Hope’s exceptional batting emerging as one of the defining stories of the tour.  The team’s performances have offered encouraging signs for West Indies cricket as it continues to build towards future international assignments. Competing against India provides valuable experience, and the players’ efforts reflect their ambition to establish themselves among the leading teams in international cricket.

The tour has also provided an opportunity for individual players to make their mark and strengthen their positions within the national team.

Brief scores: India 118/5 in 7.4 overs (Ishan Kishan 30, Naman Dhir 24*; Shamar Springer 2-17, Keemo Paul 2-34) vs West Indies. Nine-over match abandoned due to rain.