Shai Hope struck an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls to anchor the highest successful T20I chase against India, as West Indies overhauled a 250-run target in Ranchi on 10 October to win the second T20I by six wickets and level the five-match series 1-1. India head coach Gautam Gambhir called Hope a 'world-class cricketer' in the post-match press conference, acknowledging that the West Indies captain's innings was too good to contain on a dew-affected surface.

Hope and Rutherford turn the tide

West Indies were under immediate pressure, losing two wickets in the first over and slipping to 58 for three inside the powerplay. The match appeared to be tilting firmly in India's favour, but Hope and Sherfane Rutherford — who blazed 84 off 37 balls — combined for a 120-run partnership that turned the contest on its head. West Indies completed the chase with four balls remaining, finishing on 252 for four, their highest successful chase in T20 internationals.

Gambhir pays tribute to Hope

'Shai is a world-class cricketer,' Gambhir said. 'We respect him for what he's done in white-ball cricket, not only in the 50-over format but in this format as well. His record speaks for him. What he did today, especially after losing two wickets (in the first over). To continue batting at run-rate of 12-plus (an over) with Sherfane, just shows how good they are when the wicket is flat and there's dew. He batted deep which was important and in the end he finished the game. He was able to pace his innings really well.'

Gambhir also offered a broader perspective on the opening-over breakthroughs that India had celebrated prematurely: 'I've played enough cricket to know that games are not decided in the first over. They are a strong T20 side and we respect them. We know how dangerous they are. A game of cricket is won and lost when you play consistently for a period of 40 overs.'

India's batting decisions under scrutiny

India had posted 249 for five, with Sanju Samson scoring 82 and Tilak Varma contributing 44. However, a mid-innings wobble proved costly — Shivam Dube, promoted to No. 4, managed only 5 off 7 balls as Roston Chase returned figures of 3 for 24 to peg India back. Gambhir defended the promotion, framing it as part of a longer-term flexible strategy rather than a one-off gamble. 'We've used him like this for a long period of time, even at the World Cup and before that. It was not just a one-off today,' he said. 'I've said in T20 cricket only the openers are fixed.'

Despite Mayank Yadav picking up three wickets, the bowling unit could not capitalise on early gains, with dew making it increasingly difficult to grip and swing the ball in the back half of the chase.

What the defeat exposes

This is the highest successful T20I chase ever recorded against India, underscoring a recurring vulnerability — India's ability to defend large totals when dew nullifies their pace options in the second innings. Notably, the pattern of winning the toss and batting first has repeatedly come under scrutiny in T20 cricket, and this match adds fresh weight to that debate. 'The bottom line is we couldn't defend 250,' Gambhir conceded. 'They batted extremely well. They deserved to win and we still need a lot of work to be done when you're playing against a dangerous team, especially when you lose the toss.'

What's next

The series now moves to Indore for the third T20I in under 48 hours, with the contest finely poised at 1-1. India will need to sharpen their bowling execution and revisit their second-innings defensive plans, while a confident West Indies side — galvanised by Hope's leadership innings — will look to take a series lead for the first time in the series.