India and West Indies Level at 2-2 Ahead of Bengaluru Decider as Rain Looms

India and West Indies play the fifth and final T20 International of their series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 17 October 2026. The series began in Lucknow on 6 October and is level at 2-2, so the match will decide the series unless it is abandoned.

West Indies won the fourth match in Hyderabad on 14 October by 24 runs, scoring 247 for 3, with India's chase ending at 223 when Arshdeep Singh was forced off injured. Rain is forecast for Bengaluru that evening, and a no-result would leave the series shared if no reserve day or other arrangement applies. The fifth match is the only fixture left, so it decides the series result unless it is abandoned.

India's Unbeaten Home Run

India's most recent home bilateral T20I series defeat came in February 2019, when Australia won 2-0 in India. A West Indies win in Bengaluru would end that run and make West Indies the first visiting side to take a home T20I series from India since then.

Earlier home series defeats came against England in 2011, New Zealand in 2012 and South Africa in 2015, before the Australia tour, according to Yahoo Sports.

The run has now lasted more than seven years, counted from the Australia tour. The record is for bilateral series, and the fifth match is the only match that can end the run in this series.

The series can end in three ways. India can win the match and take the series 3-2, West Indies can win it and take the series 3-2, or a no-result leaves the two sides sharing it if no reserve day or other arrangement applies.

What a West Indies Win Would Mean

West Indies have won two of the four matches so far, losing in Lucknow and Indore. A win in Bengaluru would give them the series 3-2.

Their highest total of the series so far is 252 for 4, made while chasing India's 249 for 5 in Ranchi. In Hyderabad, Sherfane Rutherford made 49 not out off 26 balls, Shimron Hetmyer made 33 off 12 and Jewel Andrew made 21 off 16, according to Outlook India.

The four results have been decided by margins of eight wickets in Lucknow, six wickets in Ranchi, 14 runs in Indore and 24 runs in Hyderabad. Shai Hope captained West Indies in Hyderabad.

West Indies won the most recent match in Hyderabad, and India will be looking to end the series with a win in Bengaluru.

Results So Far and Team Form

The series opened in Lucknow on 6 October, where West Indies were dismissed for 171 in 19.1 overs. India reached 172 for 2 in 14.4 overs to win by eight wickets.

West Indies took the second match in Ranchi on 9 October. India made 249 for 5, and West Indies replied with 252 for 4 in 18.3 overs to win by six wickets.

India won the third match in Indore on 11 October by 14 runs. They made 223 all out, and West Indies reached 209 for 7 in reply.

The fourth match was played in Hyderabad on 14 October. India's chase ended at 223 after Arshdeep Singh was forced off injured, with Sanju Samson making 56 off 23 balls and Tilak Varma 43 off 25, according to Outlook India.

India have won two matches and lost two, and West Indies have the same record. The series has alternated: India won the first, West Indies the second, India the third and West Indies the fourth.

The series' lowest total is West Indies' 171 all out in Lucknow.

A Series of Big Totals

Five of the eight innings in the first four matches have reached 220 runs or more. They are 249 for 5 and 252 for 4 in Ranchi, India's 223 in Indore, 247 for 3 in Hyderabad and India's 223 in Hyderabad.

Across the eight innings, the teams have scored 1,746 runs, an average of 218.25 per innings. Every innings after the Lucknow match has reached 200 runs.

Batting first has worked for both sides. India's 223 held up in Indore, and West Indies' 247 for 3 was enough in Hyderabad. In Ranchi, West Indies chased India's 249 for 5 down with six wickets in hand.

In three of the four matches, the side batting second has scored more than 200 runs. Two of the four results went to the side batting first and two to the side chasing.

West Indies' two wins came with totals of 252 for 4 and 247 for 3. India's wins came with 172 for 2 and 223 all out, while their defeats came with 249 for 5 and a chase that ended at 223 when Arshdeep Singh was injured.

A West Indies win in Bengaluru would end that run and make West Indies the first visiting side to take a home T20I series from India since then.

Team News Before the Decider

Arshdeep Singh was injured during India's chase in Hyderabad. According to Outlook India, the injury brought the chase to an end at 223.

Wikipedia's series summary says Arshdeep was ruled out of the Bengaluru match on 16 October with a shoulder injury, and that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named as his replacement.

The same summary records that Amir Jangoo was added to the T20I squad as injury cover on 5 October.

Nitish Kumar Reddy made 41 off 20 balls in the same chase according to Outlook India.

Rain Forecast and a Shared Series

A forecast carried by Sunday Guardian Live gives a 55 to 65% chance of rain in Bengaluru between 4 pm and 9 pm IST on 17 October. The chance rises to about 75% between 9 pm and 11.30 pm.

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has a SubAir drainage and aeration system designed to help remove water from the playing surface and speed up recovery after rain. Continued showers could still threaten the series finale.

For a result, both teams generally need to bat for at least five overs, unless a specific playing condition provides otherwise. If persistent rain prevents that, the match could be declared a no-result, and the series would be shared if no reserve day or other arrangement applies.

The highest chance of rain in that forecast comes after 9 pm. If the match is a no-result, the series could stay at 2-2 and neither side would win it outright, if no reserve day or other arrangement applies.