West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 14, 2026. Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 102, while Keemo Paul claimed five wickets to help the visitors level the five-match series at 2–2. India had entered the match with a 2–1 lead and an opportunity to seal the series, but its bowling struggled to contain the West Indies batting lineup. With the final T20I scheduled in Bengaluru on October 17, both teams now have a chance to win the series.
India vs West Indies 4th T20I Match Details
| Match detail | Information |
| Match | India vs West Indies, 4th T20I |
| Date | October 14, 2026 |
| Venue | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| India score | 223 all out in 19.3 overs |
| West Indies score | 247/3 in 20 overs |
| Result | West Indies won by 24 runs |
| Player of the Match | Shai Hope |
| Series score | 2–2 |
West Indies posted 247/3 after India won the toss and chose to bowl. India made a strong effort during the chase but was dismissed for 223 in 19.3 overs. The result levelled the series and took the contest to a fifth-match decider in Bengaluru.
India vs West Indies Series Situation After Four T20Is
India won the opening T20I in Lucknow by eight wickets before West Indies bounced back with a six-wicket victory in Ranchi. India then regained the lead with a 14-run win in Indore, leaving the series at 2–1 ahead of the Hyderabad match. However, West Indies produced their strongest batting performance of the series in the fourth T20I, scoring 247/3 before restricting India to 223.
The teams are now level at 2–2, meaning the fifth T20I in Bengaluru will decide the series winner. India’s bowling and middle-order batting will need attention after the Hyderabad defeat, while West Indies will look to carry their momentum into the final match.
Why the Fourth T20I Was Crucial for Both Teams
India could have secured the series with a victory in Hyderabad, but West Indies kept the contest alive with a 24-run win. The result also gave the visitors a chance to complete a comeback after trailing 2–1. Both sides now enter the fifth T20I with the series title at stake, making their batting decisions, bowling combinations and execution under pressure especially important.
India Playing XI for the Fourth T20I
India went into the Hyderabad match with its existing combination rather than handing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity. The young batter had been discussed as a possible replacement if Abhishek Sharma was rested, but Sooryavanshi did not make the playing XI. India selected a combination built around its top-order batters, all-rounders and pace options.
The team struggled to contain West Indies during the first innings, conceding 247 runs. The batting lineup responded with a quick start from Sanju Samson, but regular wickets prevented India from completing the chase. The fourth T20I highlighted the need for better bowling control and stronger partnerships in the middle overs.
India’s Batting Order
Sanju Samson provided India’s biggest individual contribution, scoring 56 from 23 balls. Abhishek Sharma made 29, while captain Shreyas Iyer scored 16. After early wickets, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy attempted to rebuild the innings and shared a 70-run partnership. Varma’s dismissal ended the stand, and Reddy later fell for 41. India’s lower order could not recover from the pressure created by Keemo Paul.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remained out of the XI, while the selected top order struggled to match West Indies’ scoring rate.
India’s Bowling Attack and All-Rounders
India’s bowling attack had a difficult evening in Hyderabad. Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford powered West Indies to 247/3, with Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh conceding 52 runs each in their four overs. India also missed opportunities in the field, allowing the visitors to maintain their scoring rate through the innings.
The performance increased the importance of India’s bowling plans for the final T20I. The team will need more consistent lengths, better control at the death and improved execution against aggressive batters.
India Team Changes: What Happened With the Selection?
The main selection question before the fourth T20I was whether India would rest Abhishek Sharma or give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his first opportunity in the series. There was also discussion about managing Arshdeep Singh’s workload and bringing Kuldeep Yadav into the bowling combination. However, Sooryavanshi did not feature in the final XI, and India went into the match with an unchanged team from the previous T20I.
The result means India may reassess its combination before the series decider. Any changes for Bengaluru will depend on the team’s assessment of the Hyderabad performance, player fitness and the conditions expected at the venue.
Could Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Get an Opportunity?
Sooryavanshi was a talking point ahead of the Hyderabad game because of his aggressive batting style and potential impact in the powerplay. However, India did not select him for the fourth T20I. His inclusion for the final match remains a selection possibility rather than a confirmed decision. India must weigh the value of giving a young batter an opportunity against the need to choose its strongest available lineup for the series decider.
Will India Rotate Their Fast Bowlers?
India’s fast bowlers conceded heavily in Hyderabad, with Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav both giving away 52 runs in four overs. That performance may lead the team management to review its plans, although expensive spells do not automatically mean a player will be dropped. India needs to improve its death bowling and execution against batters who attack from the start. Any change to the pace combination for Bengaluru will depend on team management’s final decision.
West Indies Playing XI for the Fourth T20I
West Indies relied on its established batting power and a pace attack that delivered at crucial moments. Shai Hope led from the front with an unbeaten century, while Sherfane Rutherford provided a powerful finish. With the ball, Keemo Paul dismantled India’s middle and lower order to complete a five-wicket haul.
The performance showed how effectively West Indies could combine a high-scoring batting display with timely wickets. The team will aim to maintain the same balance in Bengaluru, where another strong performance could secure the series.
West Indies’ Batting Line-Up
Hope was the centrepiece of the innings, finishing unbeaten on 102 from 50 balls. Rutherford supported him with an unbeaten 49 from 26 deliveries, and their unbroken partnership of 91 runs helped the West Indies finish with a commanding total. The visitors hit 16 sixes and reached 100 in only 7.4 overs, putting India under pressure early.
West Indies’ batting depth allowed Hope to build his innings before accelerating late. The visitors will want their top order to maintain that intent in the series decider.
West Indies’ Bowling Combination
Keemo Paul was the standout bowler, taking five wickets as India lost regular wickets during the chase. He dismissed Samson and Ishan Kishan early, then returned to remove Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prince Yadav and Axar Patel. Romario Shepherd also played an important role by dismissing Tilak Varma, ending the 70-run partnership that had offered India hope.
West Indies’ attack combined early breakthroughs with pressure in the middle overs. Paul’s spell proved decisive because India could not rebuild after losing its main batters.
Key Players in the IND vs WI 4th T20I
Hope and Paul had the biggest impact on the result, but Samson and Reddy also produced important contributions for India. Hope’s unbeaten century gave West Indies the platform for a total of 247, while Paul’s five-wicket haul stopped India’s chase despite Samson’s rapid start. Rutherford’s late hitting helped the visitors add valuable runs, and India’s bowling unit struggled to find consistent control.
The match showed the importance of contributions across both innings. India’s batters had to chase a demanding target, while its bowlers needed more breakthroughs before West Indies could build a match-winning total.
Indian Players Who Could Make the Difference
Samson gave India an aggressive start with 56 from 23 balls, but his dismissal to Paul changed the momentum. Reddy scored 41 and helped rebuild the chase alongside Varma, who made 43 according to match reporting. India will need more sustained partnerships in Bengaluru, especially if its top order loses wickets early. The bowling group must also improve its execution after conceding 247 runs in Hyderabad.
West Indies Players Who Could Turn the Match
Hope’s unbeaten 102 was the defining innings of the fourth T20I. He controlled the scoring rate before accelerating at the end, while Rutherford’s unbeaten 49 added further pressure on India’s bowlers. Paul then took five wickets to prevent India from getting close to the target. These three players will be central to West Indies’ hopes in Bengaluru, although the team will also need contributions from its other batters and bowlers to win the series.
Hyderabad Pitch Report and Conditions
The Hyderabad match produced a high-scoring contest, with West Indies reaching 247/3 and India replying with 223. The surface allowed aggressive strokeplay, and the West Indies made the most of the conditions by scoring quickly in the powerplay and finishing strongly. Hope and Rutherford’s late partnership helped the visitors add a substantial total without losing another wicket.
India’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring, while West Indies’ attack showed that wickets remained available despite the batting-friendly conditions. The match demonstrated the value of combining attacking batting with disciplined bowling when defending a large target.
How the Pitch Influenced Team Selection
The high-scoring match highlighted the importance of bowling depth and effective death-over options. Teams playing at a venue where large totals are possible need enough batting to recover from early wickets, but they also need bowlers who can execute yorkers, vary their pace and control the boundary count. India’s performance showed that a strong batting lineup is not enough if the bowling attack concedes too many runs.
Toss and Batting Strategy
India won the toss and chose to field, but West Indies made that decision costly by scoring 247/3. The visitors raced to 79/1 in the powerplay and continued to attack through the middle and death overs. India’s chase began with Samson’s rapid scoring, but wickets prevented the team from maintaining the required pace. The result showed that chasing a large total requires both an aggressive start and partnerships that last deep into the innings.
Tactical Battles That Decided the Fourth T20I
West Indies won the key battles in both innings. Hope dominated India’s bowling attack and built a strong partnership with Rutherford, who accelerated during the closing overs. India struggled to contain the boundary count and conceded 18 extras, giving the visitors additional runs.
During the chase, Samson’s early aggression briefly kept India in the contest, but Paul removed him and then dismissed Kishan. India’s 70-run stand between Varma and Reddy offered resistance, yet Shepherd broke the partnership before Paul removed Reddy and two more batters. West Indies’ ability to take wickets at important moments proved decisive.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Was the India vs West Indies 4th T20I?
The fourth T20I took place on October 14, 2026, at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. West Indies won by 24 runs.
What Was India’s Playing XI?
India selected its existing combination, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not feature. The final team was confirmed at the toss before the match.
Could India Rest Abhishek Sharma or Arshdeep Singh?
Rotation was discussed before the match, but India did not make the reported change involving Sooryavanshi. Any changes for the final T20I remain subject to official team selection.
What Is the Current T20I Series Score?
The series is tied 2–2 after four matches. West Indies beat India by 24 runs in Hyderabad, setting up a decider in Bengaluru.
Conclusion
West Indies levelled the five-match T20I series at 2–2 with a 24-run win in Hyderabad. Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102 powered the visitors to 247/3, while Keemo Paul’s five wickets stopped India’s chase at 223. India will need better bowling execution and stronger partnerships in the final match, while West Indies will aim to carry their momentum forward. The fifth T20I is scheduled for October 17 in Bengaluru and will decide the series winner.
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