Match overview

India beat West Indies by 5 wickets in a T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 1 March 2026. West Indies batted first after India chose to field at the toss and posted a demanding 195/4, boosted by an extraordinary death-overs phase. India's reply started shakily but a strong middle phase of 93 runs for 2 wickets steadied the chase. SV Samson, named Player of the Match, was central to that recovery. India crossed the line at 199/5 with the target cleared in full.

The match was a fine illustration of how T20 cricket can swing across phases. West Indies' powerplay was controlled rather than explosive: 45 runs without loss. Then their middle overs cost them 4 wickets for 80 runs. A different side might have folded from there. Instead, their final six overs produced 70 runs with no further wickets, lifting the total well above Eden Gardens' average first-innings score of 186 across 171 T20 matches at the venue.

India's reply mirrored the pattern in reverse. Two early wickets in the powerplay, when they made 53, gave West Indies some hope. The middle overs settled the contest. Ninety-three runs at the cost of just 2 wickets effectively ended the chase as a contest, and 53 more in the death sealed a five-wicket win with India finishing four runs clear of the target.

Venue and conditions

Eden Gardens is one of the largest cricket stadiums in the world and carries a distinct atmosphere for subcontinental T20 cricket. Its numbers across 171 T20 matches point to a batter-friendly surface: an average first-innings score of 186 and an average powerplay tally of 44 runs. This match slightly exceeded both benchmarks, with West Indies taking 45 in the powerplay and the overall total sitting at 195.

The death-overs average at the ground is 38 runs, which makes West Indies' 70-run burst in that phase all the more striking. Dew can be a factor at Eden Gardens in evening matches, which tends to make batting second easier as the ball loses its grip on the outfield. India's decision to field first, in keeping with the ground's 58% toss-field rate, was likely influenced by that possibility. The ground's chase success rate of 53% gives the team batting second a narrow historical edge, one that held in this fixture.

For bowling sides, the powerplay remains the most productive phase. West Indies' seamers and spinners kept India to 53 runs and took 2 wickets inside the first six overs, which was a reasonable effort on a surface that generally rewards the bat early. Once those overs passed, the balance shifted decisively.

How to watch

India T20I internationals are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Streaming is available through Sky Go for subscribers and via a NOW TV day or monthly pass for those without a full Sky subscription. Matches played in Indian Standard Time (IST) typically start at either 19:00 IST (14:30 GMT during winter months) or 15:30 IST for afternoon fixtures, so UK viewers should check the Sky Sports schedule ahead of each match for confirmed GMT or BST start times.

BBC Test Match Special covers select India internationals on radio and online, though T20I coverage is more limited than for Test series. The Sky Sports app provides live commentary and highlights for subscribers on mobile and tablet.

Recent form

Both sides arrived at Eden Gardens in solid if unspectacular T20I form. India had won four of their last five fixtures in 2026, with victories against Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and Namibia, and a single defeat to South Africa. West Indies had also gone four from five, beating Zimbabwe, Italy, Nepal, and England before losing to South Africa.

The shared South Africa defeat in each team's recent record is a useful reference point. West Indies' win over England showed they can compete against major T20I sides when conditions suit. India's wins over Pakistan and the Netherlands demonstrated range across different opposition. On the strength of the head-to-head record and home conditions at Kolkata, India started this match as the side with the stronger baseline, and the result reflected that. The two sides may meet again later in this T20I calendar, and West Indies will need to find an answer to India's middle-overs batting if they are to reverse the trend across the last five encounters.