India and West Indies Clash in Lucknow as Five-Match T20I Series Gets Underway Today
Shreyas Iyer's side looks to build on recent Asian Games success against a confident West Indies team fresh off an ODI victory.
The story
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is set to host the first T20I between India and West Indies today. India, fresh off their Asian Games triumph, will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as his deputy. The home side boasts a deep batting lineup, including all-rounders Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar, complemented by a spin attack featuring Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and Axar Patel.
West Indies, under Shai Hope's captaincy, enter the series with renewed confidence after a stunning ODI victory where Hope smashed an unbeaten 162. The returning T20 specialists like Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, and Romario Shepherd are expected to bolster their side's firepower. Conditions in Lucknow might see heavy dew in the second half, potentially favoring the team batting second.
Meanwhile, in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier A, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait were in action. Qatar defeated Thailand by 7 wickets, with Zeeshan Haider scoring 47 runs. Kuwait secured a dominant 10-wicket victory over Mongolia, thanks to Mohammed Aslam's five-wicket haul. The match between Bahrain and Bhutan is currently underway, with a result not yet available. In the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two, USA chased down 330 to beat UAE by 6 wickets, with Milind Kumar scoring a century.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America vs United Arab Emirates | ODI | USA won by 6 wickets | Milind Kumar (USA) 101 (76) |
| Qatar vs Thailand | T20 | Qatar won by 7 wickets | Zeeshan Haider (QAT) 47 (41) |
| Bahrain vs Bhutan | T20 | Result not available yet | |
| Kuwait vs Mongolia | T20 | Kuwait won by 10 wickets | Mohammed Aslam (KUW) 5/19 |
Series in play
West Indies tour of India, 2026. Five-match T20I series begins today with the 1st T20I in Lucknow
ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27. USA defeated UAE in the 129th Match
ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier A 2026. Early matches underway in Malaysia
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings | India (1st, 115 rating) | India holds the top spot in the latest ODI rankings. |
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | India (1st, 269 rating) | India is currently tied for first place with England. |
| ICC Men's Test Team Rankings | Australia (1st, 126 rating) | Australia leads the Test rankings. |
What we'll be watching
- India vs West Indies [T20I], 1st T20I, West Indies tour of India, 2026, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium (2026-10-06T13:30Z)
- United States of America vs Namibia, 130th Match, ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2023-27, Grand Prairie Stadium (2026-10-07T15:00Z)
- Kuwait vs Thailand [T20], 7th Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier A 2026, Bayuemas Oval (2026-10-08T01:15Z)
- Bahrain vs Myanmar [T20], 9th Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier A 2026, Selangor Turf Club (2026-10-08T01:15Z)
- Malaysia vs Hong Kong, China [T20], 3rd Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier B 2026, Selangor Turf Club (2026-10-08T06:00Z)
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