Shreyas Iyer produced a brilliant unbeaten century as India cruised to an eight wicket win over West Indies in the opening T20I in Lucknow.
Chasing 172, India reached 172 for 2 in just 14.4 overs at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Iyer was the clear difference between the two sides. The India captain finished unbeaten on 102 from 43 balls, with 10 fours and six sixes.
It was his maiden T20I century and helped India extend their winning run in the format to 10 consecutive matches.
Ishan Kishan stayed unbeaten on 37 from 27 balls and shared an unbroken 137 run partnership with Iyer for the third wicket.
Earlier, West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs after being asked to bat first.
West Indies start quickly but lose three wickets in Powerplay
West Indies captain Shai Hope made his intentions clear early in the innings.
He attacked Mayank Yadav in the second over and helped West Indies make a positive start.
Kamil Pooran also found a couple of early boundaries before Arshdeep Singh dismissed him for 12 from 11 balls.
India then struck twice before the end of the Powerplay.
Shimron Hetmyer was run out for 5 from two balls before Axar Patel bowled Rovman Powell for a three ball duck.
West Indies ended the first six overs on 44 for 3.
Hope and Rutherford rebuild the innings
Hope and Sherfane Rutherford brought West Indies back into the contest with an important partnership.
Hope reached his half century from 36 balls.
He eventually made 52 from 37 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes.
Rutherford was more aggressive at the other end and kept West Indies moving through the middle overs.
The visitors reached 82 for 3 after 10 overs, with Hope on 41 and Rutherford on 18.
West Indies then brought up 100 in the 11th over but the momentum did not last.
Naman Dhir makes immediate impact on T20I debut
T20I debutant Naman Dhir changed the direction of the innings.
Hope hit him for six early in his spell but Dhir responded by dismissing the West Indies captain.
He later removed Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer to finish with impressive figures of 3 for 31 from four overs.
Kuldeep Yadav also picked up two wickets.
He dismissed Roston Chase for 5 and Matthew Forde for 2.
Axar Patel finished with 2 for 26 from 3.1 overs, while Arshdeep and Mayank took one wicket each.
West Indies had reached 107 for 3 when Hope was dismissed. They then lost wickets regularly and were reduced to 135 for 8.
Rutherford keeps fighting
Rutherford continued to attack despite the wickets falling around him.
He reached his fifty from 31 balls and eventually finished as West Indies’ highest scorer with 56 from 34 deliveries.
His innings included six fours and three sixes.
Akeal Hosein provided some useful late runs with 15 from nine balls.
Rutherford was dismissed with the score on 171, caught by Naman Dhir off Mayank Yadav.
Axar then removed Hosein with the first ball of the final over as West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 19.1 overs.
India lose Abhishek and Samson early
India started the chase aggressively.
Abhishek Sharma scored 21 from only 10 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
He was dismissed by Roston Chase with India on 29.
Sanju Samson followed soon afterwards.
Akeal Hosein took a return catch to dismiss Samson for 11 from nine balls, leaving India at 35 for 2 after 3.3 overs.
That was the last wicket West Indies would take.
Iyer takes complete control
Shreyas Iyer immediately put pressure back on the West Indies bowlers.
India raced to 62 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay.
Iyer and Kishan then settled into the chase without allowing the required rate to become an issue.
India reached 100 in 9.3 overs and were 102 for 2 after 10 overs.
At that stage Iyer was on 45 and Kishan was on 25.
Iyer completed his fifty from 28 balls, with all eight of his boundaries at that point coming in fours.
From there the innings changed quickly.
Shreyas Iyer reaches hundred in 42 balls
Iyer began finding the boundary almost at will during the final part of the chase.
He went after Akeal Hosein and then punished Matthew Forde as India closed in on the target.
Iyer reached his maiden T20I century in just 42 balls.
His hundred included 10 fours and six sixes.
He eventually finished on 102 not out from 43 balls, with a strike rate of 237.20.
Kishan remained unbeaten on 37 from 27 balls, with five fours.
India completed the chase at 172 for 2 in 14.4 overs, winning with 32 balls remaining.
Iyer was named Player of the Match for his match-winning century.
The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the five match T20I series.
India vs West Indies 1st T20I brief scores
West Indies 171 all out in 19.1 overs
Sherfane Rutherford 56 off 34, Shai Hope 52 off 37
Naman Dhir 3-31, Axar Patel 2-26, Kuldeep Yadav 2-33
India 172/2 in 14.4 overs
Shreyas Iyer 102* off 43, Ishan Kishan 37* off 27
Akeal Hosein 1-37, Roston Chase 1-37
India won by 8 wickets.
