Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten 102 off 42 balls — his maiden T20I century — as India chased down 172 with 32 balls to spare, beating the West Indies by eight wickets in the series opener at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on 7 October 2026. Debutant Naman Dhir's 3/31 had earlier helped restrict the visitors to 171, giving India a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

Iyer and Kishan's match-winning stand

India's chase looked briefly precarious after both openers departed inside the first four overs, leaving the side under early pressure. But Iyer and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan then combined for an unbroken 137-run third-wicket partnership that effectively ended the contest. Iyer's innings featured 10 fours and six sixes, while Kishan contributed a measured 37 off 27 deliveries, prioritising strike rotation and keeping the scoreboard moving without disrupting his captain's rhythm.

Kishan said he was comfortable taking a back seat once he recognised Iyer was in exceptional touch. 'As a batter, when I'm not looking in that great of a touch and the batter at the other end is looking in great form and is connecting the ball well, in this case Shreyas Iyer, then I don't mind playing second fiddle at all. He was scoring the bulk of the runs in our partnership, and when he's batting beautifully, it's my job to let him punish the opposition bowlers,' Kishan said.

He elaborated on the partnership's blueprint: 'The plan was simple. We had a target in mind, and we broke it down into small parts. Whenever the bowler bowled in my zone, I looked to score. On the other end, Shreyas was in full flow, so we just kept the scoreboard moving. There was no panic because we knew one good over would change the game. That is what happened, and we got over the line.'

Dhir's fearless debut with the ball

Bowling first, India needed early wickets to keep West Indies in check, and Naman Dhir delivered precisely that on his T20I debut. The all-rounder finished with figures of 3/31, removing Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd, and Shamar Springer. Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with two wickets, and India's collective bowling effort bundled out the visitors for 171 in 19.1 overs.

Kishan singled out Dhir's refusal to go defensive after being struck for a six as the standout moment of his spell. Having played alongside Dhir at Mumbai Indians, the wicketkeeper noted a marked evolution in the all-rounder's bowling confidence. 'I have seen Naman bowl during my Mumbai Indians days and at that time I would say he was more of a part-time bowler. But looking at how he was bowling in this match and the confidence he had, after getting hit for a six, on your debut, you tend to go more defensive. But Naman didn't do that and kept on giving that extra flight to the opposition batters, which helped him get a couple of wickets in his debut game,' Kishan said.

What Kishan said about Dhir's future

Kishan's assessment of Dhir's progression was pointed and forward-looking. 'Him not going defensive and attacking the batters is something that makes you understand that this player has actually worked hard on his bowling, on his skill. It shows he has the mindset to take wickets and not just survive. If he keeps bowling like this, he will go a long way,' the wicketkeeper-batter added.

The remarks carry weight given Kishan's first-hand knowledge of Dhir from the domestic T20 circuit. Moving from a 'part-time bowler' tag to an impactful T20I debut with a three-wicket haul is a significant step, and Kishan's endorsement adds credibility to the expectation that Dhir could become a regular feature in India's T20 setup.

Series context and what comes next

The 1-0 lead gives India early momentum in the five-match series. Iyer's century — reached in just 42 balls — also underscores his growing importance as a T20 finisher and middle-order anchor under pressure. India's chase, completed in 14.4 overs, reflected both the quality of Iyer's strokeplay and the composure Kishan brought from the other end. The second T20I will be closely watched to see whether Dhir retains his place and builds on a promising start.