Hyderabad next as bowlers continue to search for crumbs of comfort

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It has been a white-ball series where the bat has had the last word, with the bowlers left to pick up the crumbs. However, a sliver of respite did emerge in Indore, where low bounce and the absence of dew helped keep 224 out of reach. It was the first time in six games across the three ODIs and three T20Is that a target hadn’t been chased down.

That this series has games to come in Hyderabad (tomorrow) and Bengaluru (Saturday) is likely to fill bowlers with dread. But for those holding out for little comforts, there might be some. Firstly, the pitches in Hyderabad have been re-soiled, so they might at least call for some early assessment and circumspection from the batters. Then there’s the fact that five of the seven IPL 2026 games here were won by the team batting first, a reminder that the venue could offer a slightly different script from the chasing trend of this series. But given the way runs have flowed freely in this series, the bowlers might need little more than a reassuring stat.

But amid the gloom, there have been a few who have stood out. For the visitors, Roston Chase has been one of the rare exceptions, conceding at just 8.48 runs per over in a series where almost everyone else has gone at 10. India, meanwhile, will be encouraged by Mayank Yadav’s progress through the series. Considering his recent injury troubles, the speedster has featured in all three T20Is, and his figures of 0 for 34 complemented Arshdeep Singh’s burst in a contest where the bowlers had something to show for their efforts.

After a slow start to his stint, Shreyas Iyer will have the chance to seal his fifth straight series win as India’s T20I captain, particularly in Hyderabad, where his deputy Tilak Varma will bring local knowledge. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy, too, have venue know-how from their Sunrisers experiences. Yet, in a series where neither side has been short of clues about the conditions, familiarity can only do so much. The toss and the dew, and who makes the most of them, could have the final say.

When: India vs West Indies, 4th T20I, October 14, 19:00 IST

Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

What to expect: Local boy Tilak Varma admitted he was unsure how the new pitch in Hyderabad would behave. However, the venue holds happy memories for India’s batters, who piled up their highest T20I total of 297 against Bangladesh here two years ago. It is a reminder of the scoring potential on offer, and perhaps an ominous one for bowlers, where they have had little to work with.

Team News:

India

The hosts are unlikely to tinker with a balance that worked fine in Indore. That means more time waiting in the wings for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Probable XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav

West Indies

The visitors have been unable to bring Amir Jangoo, the star of the ODI series. But there isn’t an obvious spot for him to come in just yet and might have to wait it out, even with time running out in this series.

Probable XI: Shai Hope (c & wk), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Keemo Paul, Shamar Springer, Roston Chase, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie

Did you know?

India have won all three T20Is hosted by Hyderabad. This includes a win against West Indies chasing 208 in 2019, a game memorable for Virat Kohli’s battle against Kesrick Williams.
Both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have two T20 hundreds each in Hyderabad.
Rovman Powell’s strike against spin in 2026 is just 105.42 as opposed to 168.15 against pace.

What they said:

“The West Indies team, they are a really, really good side. You know, they play so much franchise cricket, that they know how to play this T20 format. And the power they have, it’s unbelievable. They have 10 out of 10 hitters. In fact, the No.11 can hit as well. So, as long as they are not all out, the game is not over.” – Tilak Varma.