Shreyas Iyer Reflects on Series Outcome After Rain-Interrupted Finale

Bengaluru, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : The T20 series between India and the West Indies concluded in Bengaluru on October 17, 2026, with the final match being washed out due to rain. This left the series tied at 2-2. Indian captain Shreyas Iyer expressed that the outcome could have been different if the bowlers had performed better in two of the matches.

The fifth and final match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was called off, with India scoring 118 runs for 5 wickets in 7.4 overs before the rain intervened. Following the series, Iyer noted, “If we had bowled better in the second and fourth matches, the result might have been different. Credit should be given to the West Indies; they played well. Shai Hope’s batting throughout the series was outstanding. Their ability to bounce back after a loss is commendable. Our approach to the game is always aggressive.”

Fifteen-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been waiting for his opportunity, as the opening slots are currently filled. Iyer acknowledged that Suryavanshi needs to remain patient and stick to his process. “I keep telling him that he will get his chance; if you keep working hard on your process, sometimes you just have to wait. We have two excellent openers, and that’s what we’ve been discussing with Vaibhav,” he stated.

Looking ahead, India is set to travel to New Zealand for another T20 series starting Thursday. On the busy schedule, Iyer commented, “It feels like just another day; we travel frequently in India. We are managing it quite well.”

The rain cancellation thwarted the West Indies’ chance to secure their first series win in India since 2002. They had previously lost the ODI series 2-1. Shai Hope, who scored two centuries in the four matches, was named Player of the Series. He remarked that the team was very close to winning the series.

“Right now, it’s not enough. We were very close to victory, something we haven’t achieved in over 20 years. We are definitely progressing. Success isn’t just about winning the series. I see many positives. The contributions from players like Shamar Springer, Keemo Paul, and Roston Chase showed that different players stepped up at various moments. Even if you haven’t scored runs in the last few matches, you must have confidence in yourself; my approach never changes. I believe I prepare well,” Hope concluded.