West Indies pulled off one of the most astonishing run chases in T20 history on Friday night, hunting down India's mammoth 249/5 with six wickets and nine balls to spare at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Captain Shai Hope led from the front with an unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls as the visitors levelled the five-match T20I series 1-1 — setting their highest-ever successful chase and the second-highest in men's T20I cricket.
Quick Answer: West Indies chased down India's 249/5 — a mammoth 250 target — to win the 2nd T20I in Ranchi by 6 wickets with 9 balls left. Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 off 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford's 84 off 37 powered the highest successful T20I chase in West Indies history, levelling the five-match series 1-1.
Chasing 250 was supposed to be a mountain too tall for anyone. By the second over of the reply, it looked worse: West Indies had stumbled to 9/2, both openers gone. What followed was a masterclass in controlled destruction that left the Ranchi crowd stunned and the record books rewritten.
How West Indies Chased Down 250 Against India
West Indies won the toss and asked India to bat first, a call that looked like a miscalculation when the hosts piled up 249/5 in their 20 overs. Sanju Samson smashed 82 off 41 balls, with Ishan Kishan (43 off 22) and Shreyas Iyer (40 off 18) adding quick-fire support. Tilak Varma's unbeaten 44 off 18 pushed India past 240, and the hosts would have fancied their chances. Roston Chase was the pick of the visiting bowlers with 3/24.
The reply started disastrously. Kamil Pooran fell for 4 off 2 balls, caught by Ravi Bishnoi off Mayank Yadav, and Shimron Hetmyer followed for a golden duck as Mayank ripped through the top order. At 9/2 — and 58/3 when Rovman Powell (24 off 13) also departed to Mayank, who finished with 3/36 — the chase seemed dead.
That's when Hope and Rutherford changed the game. Their fourth-wicket stand of 120 off just 54 balls swung the momentum completely. A crucial moment came when Rutherford, on 38, was dropped by Mayank Yadav at short fine leg — a spilled catch he made India regret in brutal fashion. Romario Shepherd's unbeaten 34 off 13 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) then finished the job, taking West Indies to 252/4 in 18.3 overs.
Shai Hope 102*: The Captain's Knock
The star of the night was West Indies captain Shai Hope, whose unbeaten 102 off 45 balls was a study in pacing a monster chase. His innings contained 6 fours and 9 sixes at a strike rate of 226.67 — and, crucially, he was there at the end, steering his side home with nine balls to spare.
Hope was candid about the situation his team faced early on. "But when you chase here in India, you always give yourself a chance. You always think you're in the game, regardless of what score is on the board," Hope said. "But five for two was always going to be challenging."
The turning point, in his telling, was the partnership with Rutherford. "When we got that partnership there, we just got some more impetus in the innings. Then obviously Sherfane came and did what he did, played really well with the bat, and just gave us that spark that we needed to get over the line today."
For readers of our earlier cricket coverage, Hope has long been known as a more measured, classical batter — which made this assault all the more striking. He trusted his hitting zones, kept the required rate within reach, and never let the equation get out of hand. It was captain's innings in the truest sense.
Sherfane Rutherford's 84: The Perfect Partner
While Hope anchored, Sherfane Rutherford provided the firepower. His 84 off 37 balls (7 fours, 7 sixes) at a strike rate of 227.03 broke India's back in the middle overs. After his reprieve on 38 — the dropped catch by Mayank Yadav at short fine leg — Rutherford attacked with even more freedom, and India had no answer.
The numbers tell the story: the pair's 120 runs came off just 54 balls, keeping West Indies ahead of the soaring required rate throughout. When Rutherford finally fell, the equation was manageable enough for Shepherd to come in and land the finishing blows with 13 balls of pure power-hitting.
Second-Highest Run Chase in T20I History
This wasn't just a big chase — it was historic. West Indies' 252/4 is their highest successful run chase in T20 internationals, and it's the second-highest successful run chase in men's T20I history. The only bigger one is South Africa's famous 259 against — ironically — West Indies themselves in Centurion in 2023.
Chases of 250-plus are the rarest feats in the sport. Most of them fail badly; bowling sides defending totals this big win the overwhelming majority of the time. That West Indies did it away from home, in front of a packed Indian crowd, having been 9/2 after two overs, puts it in the company of the great T20 chases of all time.
The match also underlined how T20 cricket keeps stretching what's possible. India's 249/5 was, on most nights, an insurmountable score. Instead it became a footnote to the chase. For fans following our India vs West Indies series coverage, this was the series igniting in the most spectacular way possible.
What India's Defeat Means for the Series
For India, this is a result that demands a hard look at the bowling, even accounting for the heavy dew that settled in later (dew was credited as playing a massive role in the post-match presentation, with India captain Shreyas Iyer conceding "credit where it's due, they batted amazing," per Times Now's report). Mayank Yadav's 3/36 was the one bright spot, but the rest of the attack leaked runs at every stage. The dropped catch that gave Rutherford a life on 38 will sting — those are the moments that decide 250-run chases.
The series now stands at 1-1 with three to play, and the momentum has swung. West Indies have shown their power-hitting can go toe-to-toe with India's on any ground. The third T20 takes place in Indore on Sunday, and India's bowlers will need a serious rethink of their plans for Hope and Rutherford. For those catching up on the series so far, our T20 series updates have the full picture.
Key Takeaways
- Record chase: West Indies' 252/4 is their highest successful T20I chase and the second-highest in men's T20I history — behind only South Africa's 259 vs West Indies (Centurion, 2023).
- Hope's century: Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 off 45 balls (6 fours, 9 sixes, SR 226.67) guided the chase from 9/2 to victory with nine balls to spare.
- Rutherford's assault: Sherfane Rutherford's 84 off 37 — after being dropped on 38 — powered the game-changing 120-run stand off 54 balls with Hope.
- India's total in vain: Sanju Samson's 82 off 41 headlined India's 249/5, but it wasn't enough to defend on a dewy Ranchi evening.
- Series levelled: The five-match T20I series is now 1-1, with the third match in Indore on Sunday.
- Dew factor: Heavy dew in the second innings made bowling and fielding difficult — the dropped catch by Mayank Yadav proved decisive.
Why It Matters
Results like this reshape how teams think about T20 targets. The old wisdom — 200 is safe, 240 is unbeatable — keeps getting rewritten, and this chase is the loudest rewrite yet. For West Indies cricket, beaten finalists in recent memory for the wrong reasons, a record chase on Indian soil is a statement that their T20 side can still compete with anyone. For India, it's a wake-up call: with major tournaments always around the corner, death bowling and fielding under dew are areas that need fixing fast.
What Happens Next
The caravan moves to Indore on Sunday for the third T20I, with the series tied 1-1. India will likely revisit their bowling combinations and may look for extra options to contain Hope and Rutherford, while West Indies will arrive with their tails up and a record in the bank. Two more matches follow, and after Friday night's carnage, nobody is predicting anything with confidence. Expect dew to be a factor again — and expect the team chasing to fancy its chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of India vs West Indies 2nd T20I 2026?
India scored 249/5 in 20 overs, and West Indies chased it down with 252/4 in 18.3 overs, winning by 6 wickets with 9 balls to spare at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Sanju Samson (82 off 41) was India's top scorer, while Shai Hope's unbeaten 102 off 45 powered the chase.
Is this the highest successful run chase in T20I history?
No — it's the second-highest in men's T20I history. The record belongs to South Africa's 259 against West Indies in Centurion in 2023. However, it is West Indies' own highest successful T20I chase, surpassing all their previous bests, and it came against one of the strongest bowling attacks in world cricket.
How many runs did Shai Hope score in the 2nd T20I?
Shai Hope, the West Indies captain, scored an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls with 6 fours and 9 sixes at a strike rate of 226.67. He anchored the chase from the early crisis of 9/2 and stayed not out at the end to see his team home with nine balls remaining.
What happened in the Hope-Rutherford partnership?
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford put on 120 runs off just 54 balls for the fourth wicket, turning the chase around after West Indies had slipped to 58/3. Rutherford (84 off 37) was dropped on 38 by Mayank Yadav at short fine leg and capitalised ruthlessly with 7 fours and 7 sixes.
What is the score of the India vs West Indies T20I series now?
The five-match T20I series is level at 1-1 after West Indies' record chase in Ranchi. The third T20I will be played in Indore on Sunday, with two more matches to follow in the series.
When is the next India vs West Indies T20I?
The third T20I of the five-match series takes place in Indore on Sunday. After West Indies levelled the series 1-1 in Ranchi, both teams head there with everything still to play for in the remaining three matches.
Sources
- Reuters — Hope century powers West Indies past India to level T20 series
- Channel News Asia — Hope century powers West Indies past India to level T20 series
- Dawn — Hope century powers West Indies past India to level T20 series
- The Straits Times — Hope century powers West Indies past India to level T20 series
- Times Now — Shreyas Iyer breaks silence after West Indies chase down 250
- Sportradar — live scorecard data (India 249/5, West Indies 252/4, strike rates, toss result)