Shreyas Iyer finds perfect timing for his first T20I century

Shreyas Iyer achieved his first T20I century against the West Indies at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The Indian captain scored a well-timed hundred in a chase of 172, which was completed in just 14.4 overs. Before his hundred, Iyer had not scored a half-century in nearly three months, with India's top three often taking the pressure off him.

During the match, Iyer absorbed the early pressure from the West Indies but turned the game decisively in India's favor in the sixth over, when he found the gaps and began driving well. He reached his fifty in 28 balls, and then accelerated with a series of sixes and boundaries before finally reaching his hundred. At the other end, Ishan Kishan provided perfect support to Iyer.

He walked in at No. 3 and played the role of a supportive batsman, rotating the strike and waiting for opportunities to attack. Kishan's contributions included boundaries through the leg side, cover, off side, and a well-timed running partnership that kept the chase moving. With Kishan on strike, India's spin trio, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Naman Dhir, combined to take seven crucial wickets for 90 runs, which helped India manage the total.

Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first T20I since February, made a significant comeback with two crucial wickets. The late 36-run stand between Rutherford and Akeal Hosein gave the West Indies a chance to defend, but the spinners' efforts ensured that the target remained within reach. Ultimately, India won the match by 8 wickets.