India vs West Indies 5th T20I Predictions – Samson to star in series decider

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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India have won two of the opening four T20Is against West Indies.
West Indies levelled the series with a 24-run victory in Hyderabad.
Can India preserve their unbeaten home bilateral T20I series record that has stood since 2019?

India's Sanju Samson has scored 82 & 56 in his last 3 knocks (Getty Images).

India vs West Indies Predictions

India are strongly backed to edge the series decider on home soil but Shai Hope’s devastating recent run-scoring feats make the West Indies a serious threat to the hosts. Bengaluru’s short boundaries and rain forecast complicate betting on total match runs in a series that has been run heavy.

India vs West Indies Predictions
Head-to-Head
India Form
West Indies Form
Team News

India’s Sanju Samson scored 82 in the 2nd T20I and 56 off 23 balls in the 4th T20I.
India’s Abhishek Sharma hit 69 from 30 deliveries in the 3rd T20I.
India’s Shreyas Iyer made an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls in the 1st T20I.
West Indies captain Shai Hope scored unbeaten centuries in the 2nd & 4th T20Is.
West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford has scored 84 & 49* not out in the four T20Is.
West Indies’ Keemo Paul claimed 5/41 in the 4th T20I.
The series is level 2–2 with the teams alternating wins across the first 4 matches.

Head-to-Head

India have won three and lost two of their last five T20s against the West Indies, including their March 2026 meeting in the T20 World Cup. West Indies won their most recent encounter by 24 runs in Hyderabad on 14 October. Across 35 T20Is India lead with 22 wins to 12 with one match abandoned.

India Form

India won the 1st T20I of the series by eight wickets, lost the 2nd by six wickets before bouncing back to win the 3rd match by 14 runs. They lost the 4th T20I by 24 runs as the West Indies levelled the series. Their chase in the 4th T20I ended with them being bowled out for 223 in response to the West Indies' score of 247/3.

Sanju Samson blasted 56 runs off just 23 balls and Tilak Varma added 43 as they stumbled their way to 130/5. Nitish Kumar Reddy blasted 41 off 20 balls in a last ditch attempt to fire his side to the win but they fell 24 runs short in what was an uncharacteristically poor performance with the bat from the hosts.

Abhishek Sharma scored 29 off 30 balls on the back of scores of 61, 21, 20 and 69 in his previous four innings. Arshdeep Singh took 1/52 in the 4th T20I on the back of figures of 3/44 in the 3rd T20I, but he and his team-mates will need to tighten up in the death overs to keep the West Indies' middle-order at bay.

West Indies Form

The West Indies have twice recovered from a series deficit to level the five-match series at 2-2 ahead of this decider. Their second-match chase of 252/4 - spearheaded by Hope’s unbeaten 102 and Rutherford’s 84 - was a remarkable display of power hitting. In Hyderabad Hope hit another unbeaten 102 from 50 balls as the visitors amassed a score of 247/3.

Rutherford contributed 49 not out and Keemo Paul’s five wickets restricted India to 223. Hope is the standout form player entering the deciding match and his form will play a crucial role in deciding the outcome.

Keemo Paul was astonishing with the ball in picking up 5/41 while knocking over two of India's top three batters to put the brakes on the Indian run chase.

Team News

Arshdeep Singh sustained a blow to his left bowling shoulder during the fourth T20I. India have added Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the squad as cover but a final decision on Arshdeep’s fitness is pending. Kuldeep Yadav is another potential selection change. Thunderstorms are forecast around the match so the toss, playing conditions and any overs reduction are all likely to play a factor in this series decider.

India (possible XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav.

West Indies (possible XI): Shai Hope (c), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.

Verdict

India v West Indies 5th T20

India are huge favourites for the win but the West Indies’ form and a healthy payout has me eager to back them. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are my picks to star for India, while Shai Hope’s incredible run of form with the bat is worth backing to continue in the series decider.

Sanju Samson

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

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