India defeated West Indies by 14 runs in the 3rd T20I at Holkar Stadium, Indore on Sunday, 11 October 2026, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Abhishek Sharma's explosive 69 off 30 balls laid the foundation, while Arshdeep Singh's three-wicket haul ensured India defended a total of 223 on a dew-free night.

Abhishek's Blazing Half-Century Sets the Platform

Abhishek Sharma was the standout with the bat, hammering six fours and five sixes in a 30-ball knock that anchored a dominant 108-run second-wicket stand with Ishan Kishan. His fifty — reached off just 18 balls — was India's 14th T20I fifty for the batter, and in the course of the innings he became the fastest batter to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, getting there in just 1,024 balls.

India were pushed into batting first and made a sluggish start, managing just 11 runs in the first two overs. Sanju Samson fell cheaply for 3 off Shamar Joseph's pace in the second over. Abhishek then took the attack to Roston Chase in the third over, driving inside-out for a boundary before lofting two successive sixes, and India never looked back in the powerplay. They ended the first six overs at a commanding 87/1.

India's Middle-Order Collapse Hands West Indies a Lifeline

India's innings unravelled in the second half through a combination of soft dismissals and costly run-outs. Chase ended the Kishan-Abhishek stand in the ninth over, stumping a stepping-out Kishan for 37, before trapping skipper Shreyas Iyer lbw for 1 in the same over.

Abhishek perished for 69, top-edging a pull to Springer, who held the return catch. A mix-up between Tilak Varma (28) and Axar Patel (20) produced a run-out that deflated India's momentum further. Axar himself was then run out after a miscommunication at the non-striker's end. Gudakesh Motie claimed his 50th T20I wicket when Naman Dhir holed out to long-off. India were eventually bowled out for 223 in 20 overs — a total that appeared short at one stage, given the early carnage.

Arshdeep and Dhir Dismantle West Indies Chase

West Indies began their chase briskly. Shimron Hetmyer was the chief aggressor early on, taking Arshdeep for a six and two fours in the fourth over, with a dropped catch off Abhishek at short third man reprieving him on 5. West Indies reached the powerplay at 54/1, but were already 33 runs behind India's equivalent powerplay score.

Hetmyer fell for 43, bowled by a skidding slower delivery from Dhir. Kamil Pooran then launched a counterattack, heaving three sixes off Dhir over cow corner, wide long-off and square leg, but was dismissed for 42 when he failed to get under a pick-up shot and holed out in the deep. Rovman Powell was caught at deep cover for 5 off Axar Patel attempting an aerial drive.

Arshdeep Singh sealed the contest in the 18th over, removing both Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford in four balls to finish with figures of 3-44. Dhir contributed 2-39. A late burst of sixes from Shamar Springer's unbeaten 35 off 11 balls — including three sixes and a four off Axar — was not enough, as West Indies finished on 209/7.

Series Context and What's Next

Notably, this was the first match in the white-ball series where the team batting first emerged victorious. India's bowlers had previously struggled to defend totals, making this a particularly significant performance. The result also avenges West Indies' win in the second T20I, which had levelled the series. With two matches remaining, India hold the advantage at 2-1. The two sides will next face each other in the 4th T20I, with India aiming to seal the series.