The fifth and deciding T20I between India and the West Indies was abandoned because of rain at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026, leaving the five-match series level at 2-2 after a washout that denied the crowd any chance of a winner.
How the Bengaluru washout unfolded
It was always going to be a close call. There was some hope in the morning when the probability of rain fell from 70 to 30 per cent, but persistent drizzle through the evening kept the ground staff from getting the venue ready and delayed the scheduled 6:30 pm toss, IANS reported. The rain finally relented around 8:30 pm, allowing the toss to take place and the match to be reduced to nine overs a side with a 9:15 pm start time.
West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to bowl first. Put into batting first, India were made to work hard early on as Keemo Paul extracted movement with the new ball. The all-rounder then lost his radar briefly, overstepping and conceding five wides down the leg side; Abhishek Sharma swung and missed at the free hit, sent the next ball over deep mid-wicket for six, and then flicked the following delivery straight to Shamar Joseph at mid-wicket to depart for six.
Top-ranked T20I batter Ishan Kishan then took charge, plundering 24 runs off Romario Shepherd's first over, including a breathtaking scoop on one knee over fine leg that cleared the Chinnaswamy roof. Shamar Joseph had Kishan caught at mid-on off a cleverly disguised slower ball, but Sanju Samson's boundary brought up India's fastest team fifty in T20Is in just 2.5 overs, IANS reported. Shamar Springer then sent Samson's off-stump cartwheeling with his very first delivery, while Shreyas Iyer laboured to 22 off 14 balls, surviving a run-out chance and a dropped catch by Sherfane Rutherford before Paul had him caught at deep mid-wicket on a miscue.
Dhir provided the late fireworks, smashing 16 off his first three balls — whipping and lofting Paul for sixes, then thumping him over mid-off for four — and remained unbeaten on 24 off six balls. But the drizzle, which had resumed midway through India's innings, grew heavier soon after Springer cleaned up Tilak Varma in the eighth over, and the umpires called for the covers. India were 118 for 5 in 7.4 overs. The match was abandoned at 10:16 pm; with no possibility of a five-over chase of 84 for the West Indies before the 10:21 pm cut-off, the players exchanged hugs and handshakes in the dressing rooms, IANS reported. Springer finished with 2-17 and Paul 2-34.
A frustrating evening at the Chinnaswamy
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium's long wait for staging international cricket after two years ended in an anticlimax, IANS reported. The crowd, which waited patiently for hours, was treated to only a brief burst of action before the rain had the final say. The washout denied the West Indies a chance to get their first series win in India since 2002, though the visitors could take heart from how fiercely they competed over the last three weeks, first in the ODIs and then in the shortest format. The match also marked Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return after 1437 days, but the veteran pacer did not get an opportunity to bowl.
Why it matters
A shared 2-2 series is a creditable result for the West Indies against the world champions on home soil — they had to fight every match to earn it, and the draw means they leave India with their reputation enhanced. For India, the standout story was the batting depth: the fastest team fifty in the country's T20I history, set in just 2.5 overs, and a 24-off-6 cameo from Naman Dhir, who had done little with the bat earlier in the series.
What happens next
Both teams now move on to their next assignments. India will note the form of Kishan and the lower-order power of Dhir, while the West Indies take home a drawn series and proof they can live with India's power game. When these sides meet again, everyone will hope the weather cooperates. For more on the region's cricket news, see our report on Mahela Jayawardene stepping down as Mumbai Indians head coach.
Key Takeaways
- The 5th T20I in Bengaluru was abandoned because of rain on October 17, 2026, after India reached 118 for 5 in 7.4 overs; the five-match series finished 2-2.
- India's fastest team fifty in T20I history — 50 in just 2.5 overs — headlined a 9-over blitz that began nearly two hours late.
- Ishan Kishan made 30 off 10 balls, Naman Dhir was unbeaten on 24 off 6, and Shamar Springer took 2-17 as the game ended with no result.
- The washout denied the West Indies their first series win in India since 2002.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the India vs West Indies 5th T20I abandoned?
Persistent rain forced the abandonment at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Play began around 8:30 pm — nearly two hours late — the match was reduced to nine overs a side, and after India reached 118 for 5 in 7.4 overs, the rain returned and the umpires abandoned the game at 10:16 pm, with no five-over chase possible before the 10:21 pm cut-off.
Who won the India vs West Indies T20I series?
Nobody. With the fifth and deciding match washed out, the five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw. The result denied the West Indies a chance at their first series win in India since 2002.
What was the score when rain stopped play?
India were 118 for 5 in 7.4 overs. Ishan Kishan made 30 off 10 balls, Sanju Samson 16, captain Shreyas Iyer 22 off 14 balls, and Naman Dhir was unbeaten on 24 off 6 balls. Shamar Springer took 2-17 and Keemo Paul 2-34.
What record did India set in the match?
India registered their fastest team fifty in men's T20I cricket, reaching 50 in just 2.5 overs. The fifty was brought up by a Sanju Samson boundary off Shamar Joseph, after Kishan had plundered 24 runs off Romario Shepherd's first over.
When was the last international at the Chinnaswamy Stadium?
The stadium's last international before this match came two years ago, the October 2024 Test between India and New Zealand, IANS reported. Thousands of fans packed the venue for its long-awaited return to international cricket.
Did Bhuvneshwar Kumar play in the match?
The match marked Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to India's T20I setup after 1437 days, with Shivam Dube also included in place of Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was ruled out through illness. Kumar did not get an opportunity to bowl before rain ended the contest.
Byline: GlobalDeskNews Staff