The fourth Twenty20 International between India and West Indies is underway in Hyderabad, with India holding a 2-1 series lead. West Indies are currently batting, having reached 118 for 2 at the halfway point of their innings, with opener Shai Hope notably achieving a half-century.
The match takes place on a pitch described as an “extremely flat” batting surface, mirroring conditions seen in previous IPL games in Hyderabad, where the run rate frequently exceeds 10 runs per over in both innings, according to Betfair’s cricket correspondent Ed Hawkins.
West Indies’ Innings So Far in Hyderabad
During their innings, West Indies’ Shai Hope reached his fifty, described as having been “unstoppable on this tour,” as reported by The Times of India. Hope’s aggressive play included a six off Mayank Yadav to reach the milestone. Rovman Powell also contributed with boundaries, including a four and a six off Axar Patel, despite previously having problems against left-arm spin.
West Indies maintained a scoring rate of nearly 12 runs an over at the drinks break, reaching 118/2 after 10 overs. Earlier, Kamil Pooran had also produced an innings of 42 from 27 balls in the previous game, contributing to the team’s confidence.
India’s bowlers, including Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav, have been in action. Mayank Yadav, bowling at speeds up to 144.2 kph, tested the West Indies batsmen, while Ishan Kishan made an excellent save in the deep to prevent extra runs.
Series Stakes and Team Strategy for India West Indies 4th T20I
India enters this match with a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series. A win for the hosts in Hyderabad would make the final game a “dead rubber,” securing the series for India. In the previous match in Indore, India successfully defended a total of 223 runs, although Betfair noted they “may be a little perturbed that they were not more efficient.”
India’s bowling attack for the previous game emphasised pace, featuring Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Prince Yadav, supported by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s medium pace. Spin was provided by Naman Dhir and Axar Patel, with Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube omitted. The absence of a specialist spinner was highlighted as “curious” by Betfair, suggesting Kuldeep or Ravi Bishnoi could be considered for future matches. Possible line-ups for both sides were discussed in the build-up, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi potentially waiting for an opportunity.
West Indies, having successfully chased 249 in the second T20I, were confident of their ability to chase India’s 223 in the third match. Despite losing Shai Hope early in that game, Shamar Springer’s quick 11-ball 35 provided a late surge. The team’s strategy has included packing their batting line-up, with players like Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie featuring at numbers 9 and 10.
Pitch Conditions and Betting Insights
Hyderabad’s pitches are renowned for being “extremely flat,” fostering high-scoring encounters. The run rate has consistently exceeded 10 in both first and second innings over the last two years in IPL matches held at the venue. There is no significant toss bias, with an even split of wins for teams batting first and second.
Markets for the 4th T20I anticipated a “runfest,” with the Sportsbook’s total runs quote for the first innings set at 211.5, one of the highest ever seen for this ground. While the general expectation is for high scores, Betfair also noted the possibility of a “rogue Hyderabad pitch” which is more bowler-friendly, responsible for six first-innings scores of 165 or fewer in the past. This could influence game play, as seen in other cricket fixtures.
Betfair’s analysis suggested that West Indies, despite being 2-1 down, were “far from a mug bet” for the 4th T20I, with odds of 4.131/10 for a win, considering their competitiveness. Additionally, for individual performance, Ishan Kishan was tipped to score a half-century at odds of 15/8, following his and Abhishek Sharma’s success in hitting 30 or more runs in the previous game.