India captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the exceptional batting performance delivered by West Indies batter Shai Hope throughout the T20I series that concluded on October 17, 2026. The five-match series ended with both teams claiming two victories each, with rain restricting the final game in Bengaluru to just 7.4 overs per side. Hope's consistent run-scoring across the series earned him the Player of the Series award.
Iyer spoke about Hope's impact after the final T20I. The India captain recognised the quality of West Indies' batting display and singled out Hope's contribution as a standout feature of the tour.
Hope accumulated 261 runs across four T20I innings, with 204 of those runs coming from just 95 balls in two matches. His consistency was remarkable, as he remained unbeaten on three occasions during the series, and West Indies won all three matches in which he stayed not out. Hope also became the first West Indies player to score three T20I centuries.
In the second T20I at Ranchi on October 9, Hope scored 102 not out off 45 balls, guiding West Indies to their highest successful T20I chase with a total of 252 for 4 while pursuing 249. Four days later in Hyderabad on October 14, he struck an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls, hitting nine sixes and four fours in that innings as West Indies posted 247 for 3 to defeat India by 24 runs.
Hope's excellence extended beyond the T20I series. In the preceding ODI series, which India won 2-1, Hope scored 278 runs across three innings, including an unbeaten 162 off 143 balls in West Indies' sole ODI victory. His four centuries across the bilateral tour represented an exceptional achievement for a visiting batter in India.
"Well, it could have definitely been different if we had bowled well in the second and the fourth game [the games India lost]. Obviously, batting has been sensational throughout. It's just about that execution which we were falling short. But credit where it's due. They batted phenomenally well and also Shai Hope, brilliant performance by him, the way he was cruising through in the series. It was difficult at times but kudos to him," said Iyer to broadcast as quoted by Cricinfo.
West Indies received contributions beyond Hope's individual brilliance. Sherfane Rutherford struck 84 runs off 37 balls in West Indies' first T20I victory and added 49 not out off 26 balls in another successful chase. Keemo Paul became the first West Indies bowler to take multiple five-wicket hauls in T20I cricket.
"We were very close. It's something that we haven't done in so many years. To get this far in the series, give ourselves a good chance, it obviously shows what we're doing as a unit. We're certainly progressing. The success doesn't necessarily have to be series wins. But to see the way all the guys have been progressing as a team is very commendable," said Hope.
"You still have to have that self-belief. Honestly, whenever I cross the line, even if I haven't got any runs in the last two, three, four, five innings, I still believe that I can get the job done. I think that's what kind of keeps me going, keeps me grounded as well, knowing that even if I do score a hundred or I get a big score, in the next game I still have to start from scratch," he added.
For India, Naman Dhir made an impact in the final T20I, scoring 24 not out off just six balls with three sixes. However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not feature in any match of the series, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan continuing as the top three batters throughout the tour.
"I just keep telling him, you'll get your opportunity. There are two batters [Samson and Abhishek] who have won the [T20] World Cup for you and they have been consistent with the run-scoring as well. So if you are consistent with your processes and your mindset is a bit light - not think too much about getting an opportunity right now," said Iyer.
"I know what must be going on in his mind, especially after a phenomenal IPL season. But you have to wait sometimes and we've got two fantastic openers who have been consistent throughout," he added.
