India and West Indies meet in the fifth and final T20I on Saturday, 17 October 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match begins at 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM UTC). With the series tied 2-2, the winner will take the trophy.
India vs West Indies 5th T20I: Match Details
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Time: 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM UTC)
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Series position: Level at 2-2
West Indies Force a Bengaluru Decider
West Indies levelled the series with a 24-run win in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Captain Shai Hope made an unbeaten 102 from 50 balls as the visitors posted 247/3.
India were dismissed for 223 in 19.3 overs despite Sanju Samson's 56 and useful contributions from Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Keemo Paul claimed 5/41, completing a result that turned the Bengaluru fixture into a winner-takes-series contest.
A Series Defined by Attacking Batting
Both teams have won twice, and each match has produced a different match-winner. India chased 172 rapidly in Lucknow, West Indies completed a record pursuit in Ranchi, India defended 223 in Indore, and the visitors then defended 247 in Hyderabad.
Hope has scored two centuries during the T20I series, while Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have delivered important innings for India. The deciding contest is therefore likely to depend on which bowling unit can interrupt another powerful batting display.
Bengaluru Pitch and Match Conditions
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for short boundaries and a fast outfield, but the exact pitch, grass cover and weather must be assessed closer to the match. Historical venue trends can provide context, not a guaranteed score.
As this is a night game, the captains will also monitor possible dew. New-ball movement, powerplay control and execution at the death could matter more than the toss alone.
Probable Playing XIs
India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav.
West Indies: Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Kamil Pooran, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Shamar Springer, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Matthew Forde.
These are CricXZ editorial projections based on recent selection and the available squads. Confirmed playing XIs will be announced at the toss.
Selection Questions Before the Final
India must decide whether to retain the Hyderabad combination or adjust the bowling attack after conceding 247. Any opportunity for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi or Washington Sundar remains a selection possibility, not confirmed team news.
West Indies have fresh momentum and may prefer continuity. Their main decision is how to balance batting depth with enough bowling options at a venue where defending boundaries can be difficult.
Key Battles
- Shai Hope vs India's new-ball bowlers: Hope enters the decider after 102 not out in Hyderabad.
- India's middle order vs Keemo Paul: Paul's 5/41 changed the fourth T20I.
- Abhishek Sharma vs Akeal Hosein: India's powerplay tempo could depend on how Abhishek handles the left-arm spinner.
- Sherfane Rutherford vs India's death bowling: Rutherford's unbeaten 49 helped West Indies finish strongly in Hyderabad.
Players to Watch
Shai Hope: The West Indies captain has become the central figure of the tour and now has three T20I hundreds.
Sanju Samson: His 56 in Hyderabad gave India a platform despite the demanding chase.
Keemo Paul: The seam-bowling all-rounder carries five-wicket-haul momentum into Bengaluru.
Abhishek Sharma: His ability to dominate the powerplay remains one of India's clearest routes to control.
Squads
India: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav.
West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Amir Jangoo, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.
Match Outlook
India have home conditions and several in-form batters, but West Indies have twice shown that they can outscore the hosts in high-pressure games. With no series cushion remaining, the team that controls the powerplay and responds better when momentum changes should hold the strongest chance of winning the decider.
Sources
- BCCI — India vs West Indies fifth T20I match centre
- BCCI — India squad and official series schedule
- Cricket West Indies — Fourth T20I result and scores
- Cricket West Indies — Official fixtures
Fixture, result and squad information was checked against the cited sources on 15 October 2026. Probable XIs, conditions and match outlook are editorial projections; confirmed teams will be known at the toss.