Abhishek And Arshdeep Turn Indore Run-Fest Into India's Control Test
India beat West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I, taking a 2-1 series lead after Abhishek Sharma's 69 and Arshdeep Singh's 3 for 44.
India's third T20I win over West Indies in Indore was a useful correction after the Ranchi shock. This time, 223 was enough. India were bowled out for 223 in 20 overs, then held West Indies to 209 for 7 to win by 14 runs and move 2-1 ahead in the five-match series.
The result mattered because the previous match had made Indian totals feel strangely insecure. West Indies chased 250 in Ranchi, turning India's 249 for 5 into a warning that flat pitches, dew and power hitting could make even huge scores vulnerable. Indore was supposed to be another batting ground, but the dry conditions gave bowlers just enough to work with.
Abhishek Sharma gave India the early surge. His 69 from 30 balls set the tempo and allowed India to keep attacking even when wickets interrupted the innings. Ishan Kishan's 37 from 18 added more pace, while late runs from the lower order helped India reach a total that looked strong but not unreachable.
West Indies had reasons to believe. They had the confidence of Ranchi and a target that, on paper, sat within range of modern T20 hitting. Shimron Hetmyer's 43 from 26 and Kamil Pooran's 42 from 27 kept the chase alive, and the final over still carried tension.
The difference was India's bowling discipline at key moments. Arshdeep Singh was named player of the match after taking 3 for 44 from four overs. In a game where both attacks took punishment, his wickets and late-innings composure gave India control. Naman Dhir's 2 for 39 also mattered because it stopped West Indies from turning a chase into a procession.
Captain Shreyas Iyer's post-match comments pointed to the same theme: clarity. After the bowlers were battered in Ranchi, India needed more than a big score. They needed to show they could defend on a ground where boundaries come quickly. Indore supplied that answer, even if it was not a perfect one.
There are still issues. India were bowled out, which means the batting left balls unused. West Indies still made 209, which means the attack has not suddenly become airtight. But T20 series are often shaped by whether teams adapt faster than the opposition from one venue to the next.
Hyderabad now becomes the next pressure point. West Indies need a win to keep the series alive, while India can close the contest by proving Indore was not just a recovery but a reset. For now, Abhishek gave India the launch, and Arshdeep gave them the finish.
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