India captain Shreyas Iyer scored 102 not out off 43 balls in the first T20I against West Indies in Lucknow on October 6, 2026.
Shreyas Iyer struck his maiden T20I century during India's first T20I against West Indies at Lucknow on October 6, 2026. The India captain remained unbeaten on 102 off 43 balls, guiding his team to an 8-wicket victory in a chase of 172. Iyer's explosive innings featured 10 fours and 6 sixes as India overhauled West Indies' total of 171 in just 14.4 overs.
Sunil Gavaskar praised Iyer's performance and form during the match. The former India captain highlighted the quality of Iyer's shot-making and his ability to adapt to different bowling attacks. Gavaskar noted that Iyer had faced questions about his batting form since becoming India's T20I captain, making this century particularly significant.
"It was a sublime knock from Shreyas Iyer. He looked unstoppable, and no matter what lines and lengths the West Indian bowlers bowled, Iyer had an answer to everything. The shots he played were a treat to watch, especially the upper cut off Romario Shepherd, which showed that he meant business. Shreyas Iyer has had a bit of a torrid time with the bat since becoming the captain of this Indian T20I squad," Gavaskar said on JioStar.
Iyer's acceleration through the middle overs proved decisive in the chase. He reached his half-century from 28 balls, marking his 11th fifty in T20Is and his first in 10 innings. From that point, Iyer shifted gears dramatically, adding 52 runs off just 15 balls to complete his century. Matthew Forde bore the brunt of this assault, conceding a four and three sixes to Iyer during the 14th over.
Gavaskar on Iyer's return to form
Gavaskar emphasised the importance of Iyer delivering a big knock after concerns about his form in recent matches. Despite India's winning streak, the captain's personal batting had drawn scrutiny on social media and among analysts. The former India opener highlighted how Iyer took complete control of the run chase and continued to accelerate through the middle overs.
"In recent times, the wins have come, but his own form with the bat was a concern. So, it was important for him to play a big knock, and he delivered in this first T20I. Iyer took complete control of the run chase and continued to accelerate through the middle overs," said Gavaskar.
"He reached his fifty in just 28 balls and then shifted gears completely, going from 50 to 102 in the space of just 15 balls. There had been questions on social media about Shreyas' batting form, and this hundred has silenced all of them. This knock is a strong signal that Shreyas Iyer is back to his best," he added.
Iyer's partnership with Ishan Kishan proved crucial in the successful chase. The pair added an unbeaten 137 runs for the third wicket, with Kishan remaining unbeaten on 37. India's bowlers had earlier restricted West Indies to 171, with Naman Dhir taking 3 wickets for 31 runs and Axar Patel claiming 2 for 26. Sherfane Rutherford scored 56 off 34 balls and Shai Hope made 52 off 37 balls for West Indies.
Iyer's century ranks among the fastest by an India captain in T20I history. His 42-ball hundred is the fourth highest score by an Indian captain in Men's T20Is and joint-third fastest by a captain from a full-member team in the format. The victory extended India's winning run in T20Is to 10 matches. The second T20I of the series is scheduled for October 9 in Ranchi, followed by the third T20I on October 11 in Indore.