India defeated West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on October 11, 2026, taking a 2-1 series lead. India posted 223 for 10 in 20 overs, with West Indies reaching 209 for 7 in their chase. The victory came on a pitch where low bounce made big hitting difficult, yet India’s aggressive batting in the middle overs proved decisive.
Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer with a 30-ball 69, striking at a rate that proved too much for West Indies’ bowlers. His innings included 50 runs scored on the off side, showcasing his range and control against the opposition attack. Alongside Abhishek, Ishan Kishan contributed a breezy 37 off 18 balls, and the two added a crucial 108-run partnership for the second wicket that shifted the momentum of India’s innings.
Abhishek Sharma emphasised the need to maintain intensity throughout the match, reflecting on India’s approach during the contest. West Indies had demonstrated a pattern of staging comebacks in the series, and India’s planning took this into account.
“We were talking about this in the huddle that we will be ruthless, we will not leave, and we will not give a single chance for a comeback,” Abhishek said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
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Tilak Varma run out in brain fade moment vs West Indies
He acknowledged West Indies’ ability to stage comebacks, noting that the opposition had demonstrated this capability in previous matches of the series. This mindset proved crucial when Shamar Springer finished unbeaten on 35 off just 11 balls, reminding India of West Indies’ explosive potential.
“If they are 50 for 5 as well, I think they have that capability to turn things around for themselves. In that case, we were very much prepared this time. If we got a good Powerplay in bowling, we can’t just give them one bad ball at that point of time. We just wanted to execute our plans and that’s what we did,” he added.
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I gave Roston Chase respect: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek said he was aware of West Indies’ plan to contain him, with off-spinner Roston Chase opening the bowling. He explained that he initially played cautiously, respecting Chase’s form in the series, before looking to counter the opposition’s strategy and score more freely during the Powerplay.
“It was there in my mind that they had a plan against me. Obviously, an offspinner [Roston Chase] bowled in the first over. So it was just a battle between him and me,” Abhishek said.
“I gave him respect in the first over because I think he’s bowling really well in this series. So it’s just that the plan went pretty well for me as well, because in the Powerplay only, I was trying to just get a few runs. They had a plan for me, and I had to play better than that.” he added.
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i have to relax Ishan Kishan a little: Abhishek Sharma
The partnership between Abhishek and Ishan Kishan proved vital to India’s total on a challenging pitch. Abhishek spoke about the understanding between the two batters and how he managed Kishan’s mindset during their stand. This partnership laid the foundation for India’s above-par total.
“I have to make him laugh, I have to relax him a little. Because he likes to be in that zone when he comes to bat. But, I feel like there is a bonding between the two of us. We have had so many partnerships, even in the IPL as well. So, we understand each other pretty well,” Abhishek said.
Abhishek’s 30-ball 69 also marked a significant personal milestone. He became the fastest batter to 2000 T20I runs by balls faced, reaching the mark in 1024 deliveries and surpassing the previous record of 1164 balls held by former Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav. His fifty came off just 18 balls, demonstrating the explosive nature of his batting. India’s powerplay saw them reach 87 for 1, with Sanju Samson falling for 3 in the second over, before Abhishek and Ishan took control of the innings.
