I'll be honest — after Ranchi, I wasn't sure India would bounce back this quickly. Chasing 250 and falling short the way they did, that hurts a team's confidence. But what happened in Indore last night was exactly the response you'd want from a good side.
India beat West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I, and honestly, it was Arshdeep Singh who won them this game. Not Abhishek's 69, as good as it was — it was those two balls in the 18th over that decided everything.
Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Arshdeep Singh, Player of the Match for his 3/44.
The Innings That Set It Up
India were asked to bat first, and for a moment it looked like another shaky start — Sanju Samson gone for 3. But then Abhishek Sharma did what Abhishek Sharma does. 69 off 30 balls, six fours, five sixes. The kid doesn't know how to play safe, and on a night like this, that's exactly what India needed.
Ishan Kishan played his part too — 37 off 18, and together they put on 108 in just 40 balls. That's the kind of start that breaks a bowling attack's spirit. Tilak Varma chipped in with 28, but then things got messy. Wickets fell in a heap, and 223 all out felt like 20 runs short of where they should've been.
Credit to West Indies though — Roston Chase, Shamar Joseph and Shamar Springer all took two each. They fought back well.
The Chase That Almost Was
224 to win. West Indies came out swinging, and for a while, I genuinely thought we were watching Ranchi all over again. Hetmyer was hitting them clean — 43 off 26. Pooran looked dangerous with 42. And then Shamar Springer started launching sixes at the end — 35 not out off 11 balls, four sixes. My heart was in my mouth.
Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) — Shimron Hetmyer made 43 off 26 in the chase.
But here's the thing about T20 cricket — one over changes everything.
The Over That Won It
The 18th over. Arshdeep Singh with the ball. West Indies needed something like 40 off 18, very gettable with wickets in hand. First ball — Keemo Paul tries to go big, miscues, caught. Then Rutherford, who'd been threatening with 32 off 20, gets a pinpoint yorker that smashes into middle stump.
Two wickets. Game over, really. West Indies finished on 209/7, and you could see the belief drain out of them after that over.
3/44 doesn't look spectacular on paper, but those were the three wickets that mattered most. Player of the Match — deserved.
Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) — Holkar Stadium, Indore.
What This Means
India lead 2–1 now, and the difference between this game and Ranchi was simple: death bowling. In Ranchi, they had no answers. In Indore, Arshdeep stood up. That's what good teams do — they fix problems fast.
For West Indies, there's no shame in this. They pushed India all the way, and Springer at the end showed they've got serious depth. But they'll know they let this one slip.
Hyderabad next, October 14. India win that, series is theirs. West Indies need to win both remaining games. Should be a cracker.
Match at a Glance
- India 223 all out (Abhishek 69 off 30, Kishan 37 off 18)
- West Indies 209/7 (Hetmyer 43, Pooran 42, Springer 35* off 11)
- Result: India won by 14 runs
- Player of the Match: Arshdeep Singh (3/44)
- Series: India lead 2–1
What did you make of Arshdeep's 18th over — the best death bowling you've seen this series? Let me know in the comments.
Follow NajamSports.online for more.