India vs West Indies, Highlights, 3rd T20I in Chennai, full cricket score: Hosts win last-ball thriller, win series 3-0

Rohit Sharma, India captain: These games happen. I have been part of these games in IPL, when you get the last-ball finish. We spoke at the start that we wanted to be ruthless and we never took a back seat. We did not turn complacent. There will be times when the batsmen will put you under pressure and this is what the bowlers will run with every game.

Kuldeep Yadav is the Player of the Series! Due to his absence, his spin buddy Chahal collects the award on his behalf.

Shikhar Dhawan is the Player of the Match for his innings of 92 off 62 balls! 

Dhawan: Today finally I got a big score. We lost two early wickets, and then I knew I had to stay at the crease till the end. Really happy the way I and he (Pant) played. I knew that he was going after the bowlers, so I made sure I kept one end safe. Later on I joined the party. It is big score, and I’m very happy. It doesn’t matter to me what people say. I just back myself.

Carlos Brathwaite, WI captain: We did not get the result we wanted but it is good to see the fight and effort that we put into the match. 

We have a lot of young, promising talent coming up in West Indies.

What a dramatic finish in the end! Excellent fightback by the Windies following the wicket of Pant. They kept India waiting till the very last ball of the innings. However, in the end of the series a 3-0 result in favour of India is a fair reflection perhaps. By far, the hosts have been the better side in the series and in the first two matches, the Windies were not up to the mark.

Rishabh Pant: I’m feeling very lucky today because after a long time I got runs in T20 cricket for India. Me and Shikki bhai were talking in the middle that it wasn’t that easy for batsmen to score. (On his aggressive hitting) I’ve decided that I’ll play according to the situation.

Most bilateral T20I series win of three or more matches:

9 – INDIA* (Have not lost any)
9 – Pakistan

After 20 overs,India 182/4 ( Manish Pandey 4 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 0)

INDIA WIN BY SIX WICKETS, WHITEWASH THE T20I SERIES 3-0! Came down to one needed off the last ball, and Pandey tapped the ball towards the non-striker’s end for a quick single. Both the bowler, as well as Brathwaite at short mid on fumble, allowing Pandey to complete the winning single! 

Fabulous bowling by the Windies in the last two overs, dismissing both Pant and Dhawan to make things a lot more interesting towards the end. Dhawan holed out to Pollard at long on while looking to finish things off with a flourish.

OUT! Dhawan holes out to Pollard at long on while looking to finish the game with a flourish! IND 181/4; need 1 off 1

Dhawan c Pollard b Allen 92(62)

This is Shikhar Dhawan’s highest score in T20Is, going past his previous highest score of 90 which came against Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) in 2018.

Fabian Allen to bowl the final over of the innings.

After 19 overs,India 177/3 ( Shikhar Dhawan 89 , Manish Pandey 2)

Pant gets his middle stump knocked over while looking to scoop a full delivery from Keemo Paul towards third man. Superb over from Paul, with just three runs and a wicket coming off it, although it might have come a tad late for the visitors. He signs off with respectable figures of 2/32.

India need 5 off 6

BOWLED EM! Pant looked for another cheeky scoop, but missed the ball completely and ended up getting his middle-stump knocked over! Brings the 130-run third-wicket stand to an end as well. IND 175/3

Pant b Paul 58(38)

After 18 overs,India 174/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 88 , Rishabh Pant 58)

Brathwaite starts off with a no-ball, called for height, at the start of the over, and concedes a wide and a single in the subsequent free-hits. Umpire signals a wide after Pant moves his feet away to avoid a full-pitched delivery from the WI skipper, with the decision being termed harsh by the on-air commentators. Single collected off each of the last four deliveries. 11 off the over. 

India need 8 off 12

Least T20 innings for 100 sixes:

55 – Evin Lewis
57 – Ross Taylor
58 – Rishabh Pant*

After 17 overs,India 163/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 85 , Rishabh Pant 53)

Thomas finishes off what has been an average day in office with 10 runs off his final over, including two boundaries to Dhawan. Just a touch over run-a-ball is all that the hosts need now.  

India need 19 off 18

Youngest Indian batsmen to score a fifty in T20Is:

20y 143d – Rohit Sharma
21y 38d – Rishabh Pant*
21y 307d – Robin Uthappa

FOUR! This time cleared down the ground by Dhawan, and it’s turning out to be easier than expected for the hosts! IND 163/2

Century stands for India for 3rd wickets in T20Is:

Virat Kohli/Suresh Raina v Australia, Adelaide, 2016
Virat Kohli/Manish Pandey v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2017
Shikhar Dhawan/Rishabh Pant v Windies, Chennai, 2018*

FOUR! Dhawan shuffles forward, and slices the back-of-length delivery over point to get India all the closer to the target! IND 159/2

A sensible knock by Rishabh Pant tonight. He came in at a time when India were under a little bit of pressure. Since then, the left-hander has paced his innings beautifully. Also, despite the format, this knock will be beneficial for Pant’s quest towards cementing his place in the Indian ODI side as well.

Oshane Thomas brought back for his final over. Can he get a wicket to give his side something to smile about in what has been a very depressing second half of the match for them?

After 16 overs,India 153/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 76 , Rishabh Pant 52)

Series of milestones reached in this over, starting with Pant bringing up his maiden T20I fifty with a boundary. Dhawan then clears the long off fence for a six to complete the 100-stand for the third wicket! 14 off the over, and India are now within touching distance of the finish line. 

India need 29 off 24

SIX! That brings up the 100-stand between Dhawan and Pant, with the former hammering it down the ground for a clean hit! IND 150/2

FOUR! What a way for Pant to bring up his maiden T20I fifty — scooping a full delivery from Paul towards fine leg, with the fielder putting in a dive in vain near the boundary rope. It’s taken 30 deliveries for the gentleman tipped as MS Dhoni’s successor to bring up the milestone. IND 143/2

Keemo Paul returns to the attack in the 16th over. It is India’s game to lose now.

After 15 overs,India 139/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 68 , Rishabh Pant 47)

Skipper Brathwaite brings himself back into the attack, conceding nine off his third over, with Dhawan flicking one towards the midwicket fence for his eighth boundary. 

India need 43 off 30

FOUR! Dhawan rolls his wrists to perfection once again, flicking the ball towards the midwicket fence for a four! IND 135/2

Carlos Brathwaite brings himself back into the attack in the 15th over.

The Windies fast bowlers haven’t been deceptive enough in these middle overs. They have tried to change the pace but the pitch hasn’t assisted them like it did to the Indian pacers when they bowled those slower ones. Interestingly, the dew hasn’t quite come in, yet the slowness of the pitch which was evident in the first half of the match, seems to be missing now.

After 14 overs,India 130/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 60 , Rishabh Pant 46)

10 runs off the over, with Pant collecting his third six with a slog towards the square-leg fence! Pant just one hit to the boundary away from his half-century now.  

India need 52 off 36

SIX! Another big hit for Pant, as he hammers this towards the deep square-leg fielder! IND 129/2

After 13 overs,India 120/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 58 , Rishabh Pant 38)

Pollard returns to the attack, with both Pant and Dhawan collecting a boundary each, before the former ends the over with a one-handed six over cow-corner. West Indies ought to be worried about the game slipping away from their grasp, and desperately need a breakthrough to keep their hopes alive. 

India need 62 off 42

SIX! Pant clobbers this over the cow corner fence with a one-handed shot to collect his second big hit! IND 120/2

FOUR! Creamed through extra cover by Dhawan off the third delivery of the 13th over! IND 111/2

This is the first time two openers from a team has scored 500-plus runs each in a calendar year in T20Is – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in 2018.

FOUR! Clobbered over the bowler’s head by Pant! IND 106/2

After 12 overs,India 102/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 51 , Rishabh Pant 27)

Eight off the over, with Dhawan bringing up the half-century, and the pair also completing the fifty-stand between them. India, having crossed the 100-run mark with eight wickets in their kitty, are in control of proceedings right now.   

India need 80 off 48

FIFTY for Shikhar Dhawan — and a much-needed one for the Indian opener in order to justify his position in the Indian team! Collects a double to bring up his half-century off 36 balls. IND 102/2

FIFTY partnership up between Dhawan and Pant, and this has come in real quick time — off 36 deliveries. Dhawan brings up the milestone with a single in the 12th over.

Fabian Allen brought into the attack in the 12th over.

After 11 overs,India 94/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 45 , Rishabh Pant 25)

Pant collects the first big hit of the innings with a hook over the square-leg fence. Thomas oversteps in the fourth delivery, and is hit for a six over midwicket by Dhawan in the free hit. Huge over for the Indians, with Thomas’ confidence taking a hit as he leaks 18 off his third.

India need 88 off 54

SIX! Dhawan makes the most of the free hit, smacking the ball from the middle of his bat and clearing midwicket! IND 93/2

SIX! First maximum of the Indian innings, with Pant getting under the ball and hooking it over the square-leg fence! IND 85/2

After 10 overs,India 76/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 35 , Rishabh Pant 18)

Pollard returns to the attack. Pant uses the reverse-paddle to good effect, guiding the ball towards the vacant third man region to collect his third boundary. Seven off the over, with India fairly well-placed at the halfway stage of their innings.

FOUR! Pant goes for the reverse paddle off a length delivery from Pollard, guiding the ball towards the vacant third man region; IND 74/2

Kieron Pollard brought back to the attack

Following a lean patch in the ODI series and in the first T20I, Shikhar Dhawan finally seems to get back his mojo. The left-hander got some important runs in Lucknow and tonight he is of to a start once again. Ahead of the three-T20I series in Australia, it is a sigh of relief for the Indian team management.

1,000-plus for Indian batsmen in T20 cricket in 2018:

Rishabh Pant
Suresh Raina
Shikhar Dhawan*

After 9 overs,India 69/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 33 , Rishabh Pant 13)

Good over for the Indians, with Pant starting to express himself, hammering the ball on either side of the square to collect two boundaries for himself. Nice little partnership building for India at this stage.

FOUR! Pant dispatches a short ball from Brathwaite, pulling it towards the fine leg fence! IND 69/2

FOUR! Pant waits for the ball to climb, makes room and smacks the ball over the bowler’s head to finally collect a boundary for himself. IND 64/2

Shikhar Dhawan has completed 1,000 runs in 2018 in T20 cricket – the first ever time he has done it in a calendar year.

After 8 overs,India 60/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 33 , Rishabh Pant 5)

Paul continues from the other end. Four singles collected by the Dhawan-Pant pair off the first five deliveries. Dhawan pushes the ball towards long on off the last delivery to come back for a second. Six off the over.

Oshane Thomas gets rid of KL Rahul. He continues to impress and so is the Windies in this dead-rubber. The asking rate is more than 9.5 and there is no sign of dew yet. Tonight, the Indian middle-order will be tested.

After 7 overs,India 54/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 29 , Rishabh Pant 3)

Pollard gets off to an economical start, conceding four runs off his first over, as Dhawan and Pant opt to rotate the strike between themselves.

Pollard brought into the attack in the first over after power play. India, meanwhile, need a big partnership if they are to keep their chances of a 3-0 whitewash alive.

After 6 overs,India 50/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 27 , Rishabh Pant 1)

Rahul nicks one to the keeper to depart for a low score yet again. Pant walks out to bat, and gets off the mark with a single. Dhawan smacks the penultimate delivery through midwicket for a four. India breach the fifty-mark in the power play.

FOUR! Dhawan brings up the fifty for India with a push through the vacant midwicket region! IND 50/2

OUT! Rahul’s innings turns out to be short-lived, as he gets an audible outside edge to get caught behind off Thomas’ bowling! IND 45/2

Rahul c Ramdin b Thomas 17(10)

After 5 overs,India 43/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 22 , Lokesh Rahul 17)

Khary Pierre returns to the attack, with Rahul smacking him for two boundaries to keep India’s run rate in the power play well above the 8-mark.

FOUR! Smashed over extra cover by Rahul, as he collects his second boundary of the over! IND 43/1

Early wicket, just what the doctor ordered for the Windies. And most importantly, it is Rohit Sharma. So, far the bowling has been tight and they haven’t allowed the Indians to get away with a quick start.

India’s record while chasing 175-plus targets in T20Is is  7-4.

FOUR! Slashed over the infield by Rahul off Pierre! IND 39/1

Khary Pierre brought back into the attack.

After 4 overs,India 35/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 22 , Lokesh Rahul 9)

Brathwaite decides to roll his arm over, but is off to an expensive start, with Dhawan smacking him for three boundaries — hit in three different directions of the ground.

FOUR! Three boundaries for Dhawan off Brathwaite’s first over, with the Delhi batsman making the most of the fielding restrictions right now! Hammers this one towards the midwicket fence! IND 35/1

FOUR! Dhawan advances down the pitch, and slaps the ball down the ground for a one-bounce four! IND 31/1

FOUR! Smacked through the cover region by Dhawan, as the southpaw collects his third boundary! IND 27/1

After 3 overs,India 23/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 10 , Lokesh Rahul 9)

Paul gets the early breakthrough for the visitors as Rohit holes out to Brathwaite at mid off to depart for 4. Rahul, however, is off to a positive start as he collects back-to-back fours off the last two balls.

FOUR! Driven through the cover region on this occasion, a much more confident shot by Rahul! IND 23/0

FOUR! Poor delivery from Paul, bowling short outside leg, with Rahul getting a bit of his glove to ball to guide it towards fine leg. IND 19/1

KL Rahul joins Shikhar Dhawan after Rohit’s dismissal. Windies on top at the moment.

OUT! What a start for the Windies! Keemo Paul removes the dangerous Rohit Sharma for just 4, with the Indian captain holing out to his West Indian counterpart standing at mid off! IND 13/1

Rohit c Brathwaite b Paul 4 (6)

Keemo Paul replaces Khary Pierre from the Anna Pavilion End.

After 2 overs,India 13/0 ( Shikhar Dhawan 9 , Rohit Sharma (C) 4)

Good over for India, with Dhawan smacking two boundaries off Oshane Thomas, who is introduced from the other end.

After 2 overs,India 13/0 ( Shikhar Dhawan 9 , Rohit Sharma (C) 4)

Good over for India, with Dhawan smacking two boundaries off Oshane Thomas, who is introduced from the other end.

FOUR! Pulled towards the midwicket fence by Dhawan off Thomas! The left-handed Indian opener is taking on the bowler who has troubled him the most in this series so far! IND 13/0

FOUR! Slashed over cover by Dhawan off a back-of-length delivery from Oshane Thomas. First boundary for the southpaw this innings. IND 9/0

Oshane Thomas bowls from the other end.

After 1 over, India 5/0 ( Shikhar Dhawan 1 , Rohit Sharma 4)

Windies start with spin, as skipper Brathwaite tosses the ball to Khary Pierre at the start of the Indian innings. While Dhawan takes a single to get off the mark, Indian captain Rohit sweeps towards the backward square-leg fence for a boundary off the first delivery that he faces. Five off the first over.

FOUR! What a way for the Indian captain to get off the mark! Slog-sweeps towards the fence behind square on the on side to collect the first boundary of the innings! IND 5/0

We’re back with our coverage of the third T20I between India and West Indies. Rohit and Dhawan walk out to the crease at the start of India’s chase of the 182-run target. Khary Pierre to start things off with the white ball for Windies. Should be a real interesting chase this one.

What a finish this has been for the Windies! 114 runs have come in the last 10 overs and the Pooran-Bravo partnership has turned it on for the visitors. Indian bowlers, especially the seamers have tried to change their pace and bowled a lot of slower-ones on this slow pitch. But at times I feel they were too predictable. Also, Pooran was up to the task with his switch-hits and unorthodox batting.

Windies today:

First six overs: 51-0 (RR – 8.50)
Next eight overs: 50-3 (RR – 6.25)
Last six overs: 80-0 (RR – 13.33)

Fastest fifties for Windies v India in T20Is: (By balls)

20 – Johnson Charles, Lauderhill, 2016
24 – Evin Lewis, Kingston, 2017
24 – Nicholas Pooran, Chennai, 2018*
25 – Evin Lewis, Lauderhill, 2016

After 20 overs,West Indies 181/3 ( Darren Bravo 43 , Nicholas Pooran 53)

Phew, what an innings from Pooran. When he came he looked really ordinary, was beaten consistently by Bhuvi. But boy o boy, how beautifully made a comeback and smashed the bowlers all around the field. Gets to his fifty and that too in style. 

Windies post 181/3 thanks to his and Bravo’s effort. India will not be a happy side.

FOUR! Reverse-sweep from Pooran and this is fifty from Pooran as the ball beats the short fine leg to go to boundary.

SIX! Pull shot by Pooran and we are seeing someone very special and creative at crease right now in Pooran as he fetches another four.

FOUR! Slower ball, short ball as well, Pooran goes big over the covers and the ball goes into the boundary on one bounce.

SIX! Leg stump line, full toss, and Bravo dispatches it over the fine leg for huge one.

Khaleel back into the attack.

After 19 overs,West Indies 158/3 ( Darren Bravo 37 , Nicholas Pooran 38)

Bhuvneshwar into the attack. Bad effort from Chahal again on the field. That along with average bowling effort from Bhuvneshwar means Windies have crossed 160.

Good hitting prowess has been shown by young Nicholas Pooran. He is dealing with sixes. A perfect audition for the youngster prior to the IPL Auction next month. Meanwhile, Windies are on the move and 180 seems achievable now.

FOUR! Improvisation again from Pooran as he reverse sweeps the full delivery from Bhuvi to get past Chahal, who let it past it easily, for four.

Bhuvneshwar into the attack.

After 18 overs,West Indies 149/3 ( Darren Bravo 34 , Nicholas Pooran 32)

Good stuff from Khaleel, sticking to the basics, following the batsman and bowling accordingly. Just 4 runs from the 18th over, this is really good stuff from Khaleel.

Khaleel back into the attack

After 17 overs,West Indies 145/3 ( Darren Bravo 31 , Nicholas Pooran 31)

Pooran does a switch hit to fetch a six. Now we know why he is batting ahead of Pollard, discuss the commentators. Fifty also up for Windies. Former bowlers Murali Karthik and LS do not like the switch hit played as not too long ago, a bowler in Indian domestic match was not allowed to change his stride. We will be back with more debates and arguments later. For now, Windies on a roll with the bat.

SIX! That’s not bad bowling, but creativity from Pooran, as he switches stance and hits it over the back ward square leg for a huge one.

Chahal back to complete his quota

After 16 overs,West Indies 132/3 ( Darren Bravo 30 , Nicholas Pooran 21)

Windies on the move now, thanks to timely counter-attack by the two lefties there in the middle. Bhuvi has got too predictive in this over, bowling too many slowers, which outclassed Pooran in the last over. But in this over, he was ready for those cutters.

SIX! Not timed very well by Pooran but effective as it fetches him six runs at long-off.

SIX! Another slower from Bhuvi, Pooran waits for it and then on the back foot, dispatches it over the long-on boundary for a huge one.

Windies is saving Kieron Pollard for the late onslaught. Feel at this juncture they are well-placed and should target around 60-65 runs in the final 30 balls of the innings. For India, four of the last five overs will be bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed. So, an interesting phase of the play coming up.

Bhuvneshwar continues

After 15 overs,West Indies 117/3 ( Darren Bravo 29 , Nicholas Pooran 7)

Krunal Pandya has been handed over a pelting by Bravo in this over. Have to admit, this was pretty ordinary from Pandya who was looking to fire it in and bowl outside the off stump, taking the batsman for granted. Bravo’s high back lift and quick hands made sure he got Windies rolling as last overs approach.

SIX! Bravo clears his arms, as Krunal fires it quick and outside the off stump, the batsman hits it over the covers for a huge one.

FOUR! Full, Bravo huses his high back lift to power it past the bowler for a straightish boundary.

Krunal into the attack.

After 14 overs,West Indies 101/3 ( Darren Bravo 16 , Nicholas Pooran 6)

Bhuvi is back on. He should bowl till the 20th over now if he does not go for big runs. Windies have surprised everyone by keeping Pollard for the last overs. He does not bowl these days and if he is not batting more overs, his presence in the XI is not justified. 

Bhuvneshwar in this over has stuck to slower ones and has flummoxed Pooran on almost every delivery he bowled at him. However, he gets a four for himself on the last ball to being 100 for Windies.

FOUR! Slower ball, Pooran reaches for it and manages to get it past the point fielder and gets a boundary for himself. 100 up for Windies.

Someone like Shahbaz Nadeem can consider himself unlucky to miss out on a debut on this pitch. The left-arm spinner would have ideal here. Remember, he is the only member of this Indian T20I squad, who is not travelling to Australia.

Bhuvi back on.

After 13 overs,West Indies 95/3 ( Darren Bravo 15 , Nicholas Pooran 1)

Sundar is back on. This was turning out to be real bad day in office for him. He is getting the turn but the wrong line trouble him and India. But he has sent back Ramdin which will be a respite for him.

OUT! Finally a wicket for Sundar, quicker one from him, Ramdin tried to cut the ball which was targetted at stumps and he played it on to the stumps. Ramdin b Washington Sundar 15(15)

This is some sort of a comeback match for Yuzvendra Chahal and he has been right at the mark tonight. Giving the ball some air is the key for a spinner on this pitch and the leggie has aptly shown that. Interestingly, no sign of dew yet. So, WIndies should try and reach the 180 mark. Without the dew, it will be a good total to defend.

SIX! Ramdin uses his feet, with turn, swirls the bat and hits ball over the deep mid-wicket for a huge six. 77 m long one.

Sundar back on.

After 12 overs,West Indies 84/2 ( Darren Bravo 14 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 9)

Krunal Pandya continues. He is trying to contain the batsman, firing it outside the off stump. He has also dropped a chance.

DROPPED! Krunal drops one off his own bowling as Ramdin hit it straight at him, he jumped, got hold of the ball but it slipped out of his hands.

Hetmyer was getting a bit anxious. This is inexperience for you. On such a sluggish track, he should have utilised his start instead of going for that expansive shot at this juncture of the match. He was batting well out there. Even a strike-rate of 120-130 can be considered decent here. And remember, unlike Lucknow, the boundaries are quite short at Chepauk. So, towards the end runs can come.

Most wickets for India in T20Is:

2017 – Yuzvendra Chahal (23)
2018 – Yuzvendra Chahal (18)* (& counting)

Krunal continues

After 11 overs,West Indies 78/2 ( Darren Bravo 12 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 6)

Windies stage a comeback again, not too convincing though. 11 runs from the over.

FOUR! This came out of no where as both Bravo and keeper Karhtik missed it. Goes to boundary behind the stumps.

FOUR! Too much width for Bravo, who smahes it with the straight bat past Chahal

Chahal continues.

After 10 overs,West Indies 67/2 ( Darren Bravo 7 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 4)

Pandya back into the attack. So after every wicket falling, Rohit is putting a bowler who was hit for runs in the first over.

Krunal into the attack again

Denesh Ramdin, right handed bat, comes to the crease

After 9 overs,West Indies 62/2 ( Darren Bravo 6 , )

Chahal continues and picked the second wicket as desperate Windies losing the trac. India have pulled the game back a bit after Windies got off to a great start, pelting the bowlers a bit.

OUT! It was a quiet over and Hetmyer was getting a bit restless. It was not the best ball, pitched outside the off stump but Hetmyer hits it up in the air and has been caught at deep cover by Pandya senior. Hetmyer c Krunal Pandya b Chahal 26(21)

Chahal continues

After 8 overs,West Indies 59/1 ( Shimron Hetmyer 25 , Darren Bravo 4)

Sundar back on. Bravo is taking his own sweet time to settle in. He can afford to do that. Rohit has brought Sundar back to get some confidence for him. Good move as he almost got rid of 3 runs.

Finally the breakthrough for the Indians. A much-needed one. But one needs to admire the efforts of the Windies openers tonight. They have laid the foundation in the powerplay.

Windies’ powerplay score in this series so far:

1st T20I: 31/3
2nd T20I: 39/2
3rd T20I: 51/0

Can WI capitalise on this start and challenge India by posting a big total?

Sundar back on.

After 7 overs,West Indies 56/0 (Bravo 3, Shimron Hetmyer 24)

Chahal comes in and has provided the break through for India right after Windies crossed the 50-run mark. Five runs from the over, which is a relief from India and also the wicket.

OUT! Chahal comes into the attack and Hope has perished trying to hit the ball over the deep mid-wicket. He has been caught at the same position by Sundar. Shai Hope c Washington Sundar b Chahal 24(22)

Alright, another spinner is here in form of Chahal

After 6 overs,West Indies 51/0 ( Shai Hope 24 , Shimron Hetmyer 22)

13 runs from first over of Krunal Pandya and this is a bad start for the left-arm bowler.

SIX! Fullish from Krunal and Hetmyer hits a flat six

Brilliant save from Shikhar Dhawan at deep mid-wicket as he catches the ball, then timely throws the ball away as he fell outside the ropes.

SIX! Slightly short from Krunal and Hope comes out and dispatches it over deep mid-wicket for a huge one.

Another bowling change as Krunal Pandya comes in.

After 5 overs,West Indies 38/0 ( Shai Hope 17 , Shimron Hetmyer 16)

Bhuvi into the attack now but he is off to a bad start. Has given away four runs. Windies, on the other hand, are off to a great start with Hopes and Hetmyer making most of the bad bowling in display.

FOUR! Hopes comes down the track and he swirls it over the cover fielder yet again for a boundary.

FOUR! Little bit on shorter side and Hope latches on it and hits it away to fine leg for a boundary.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar into the attack

After 4 overs,West Indies 29/0 ( Shai Hope 8 , Shimron Hetmyer 16)

Sundar continues. Another mix-up between Hope and Hetmyer as the left-handed batsman hit it to point and called. Hope ran from the other end but was asked to return in no time. Good pick up from Khaleel but bad throw meant run-out was not possible. 

Bad over really for comeback man Sundar, who has given away 14 runs in the over.

FOUR! Wide and the keeper misses the ball as it has been fired it down the leg side.

FOUR! Fullish and it appeared as this was a half volley and Hetmyer hits it between cover and mid-off for a boundary.

FOUR! Short ball again and Hetmyer this time goes straight over the bowler for a boundary.

Sundar continues

After 3 overs,West Indies 15/0 ( Shai Hope 7 , Shimron Hetmyer 8)

Khaleel continues. The second ball of the over is a Jaffa, pitches on good length to Hope and shapes away from him. Hope replies back with a boundary on the next ball. Hetmyer to hits the bad ball away for four. Khaleel need not get carried away here and stick to right line.

FOUR! Fine leg inside the circle, Khaleel fires it on the legs of Hetmyer, who flicks it over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

FOUR! Hope brings front foot to use, and there was room around the off stump, he hits it over the cover fielder for a boundary.

Washington Sundar has opened the bowling for India in each of his T20Is. His economy rate in those matches : 5.50, 7.00, 5.75, 5.25, 5.50, 5.00

Khaleel continues.

After 2 overs,West Indies 6/0 ( Shai Hope 2 , Shimron Hetmyer 4)

Sundar into the attack. Could not find the right line and length in this over and was hit for a boundary. Playing international game after a long while. It will take some time for him to get going.

Yet again Windies think-tank has sent Shimron Hetmyer to open the innings. Don’t think this is the ideal batting position for the left-hander. Remember, they have Nicholas Pooran in the XI, who is a seasoned opener in CPL. Perhaps, their team management wants Hetmyer, who has been the best Windies batsman on this tour, to play as many deliveries as possible.

FOUR! Short ball and Hetmyer uses his bottom hand to flick it bacwars square leg for a boundary.

Washington Sundar to bowl the second over.

After 1 overs,West Indies 1/0 ( Shai Hope 1 , Shimron Hetmyer 0)

Khaleel bowls the first over today. Hope on strike and we see a hint of swing straightaway from Khaleel as he gets the ball to curve in. Hope managed to get off the mark on the penultimate ball of the over with a risky single. And that’s that from the first over – Just one run.

Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer in the middle now. Khaleel Ahmed, left arm medium, to bowl first over.

India have never lost the third match of a bilateral T20I series. They have played eight times third match of a series and won all of them.

Well, both teams have got their wish. The track has a lot of cracks and will get worse as the match progresses. So, quite rightly India have opted for three spinners here. Local boy Washington Sundar gets a game.

In hindsight, Windies, won’t mind making the first use of the wicket. Their batting has struggled of late and tonight, they can just go out there and express themselves.

India XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik(w), Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, K Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal

Windies XI: Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin(w), Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite(c), Fabian Allen, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Oshane Thomas

Toss news: West Indies won the toss and they are batting first.

Pitch report: There are cracks on the pitch and the odd ball might skit down the pitch. Dew sometimes kick in but it  Won’t make any difference for India as the are at top of their game, feels Sunil Gavaskar.

In the absence of Bumrah and Umesh, the onus will be on Bhuvneshwar and Khaleel in the pace bowling department. Also, there is no Kuldeep, which will give some respite for Windies going into this game.

There is another important match to be played, miles away from Chennai. India women’s team are taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in their second encounter of Women’s World T20. You can catch the latest scores and over-by-over coverage of the game on our LIVE blog here.

Windies have showed glimpses of brilliance in the T20I series so far but have not been able to convert goods into winning results. They have lost the series but the Sunday encounter gives them the opportunity to end the disappointing tour on a good note.

India and Windies are coming back after a long gap thanks to Diwali which fell on 7 November. In case you missed it, let us tell you that Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav have been rested for the 3rd T20I. Here is the full squad for the 3rd T20I.

Denesh Ramdin said, “We played our first game at Eden Gardens, where we were expecting to do well. But we didn’t adapt as well as we should. We didn’t string any partnerships either.” Read what more he has to say about lack of senior Windies players in squad against India.

The Rohit Sharma-led team should use this dead-rubber to test their bench strength and provide confidence to the newcomers in the dressing room. Read the full preview by Sandipan Banerjee here.

Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the 3rd T20I between India and West Indies.