West Indies have etched their name into the record books on Sunday night. They became the first team in the history of men’s T20 Internationals to smash 2,000 sixes. They reached the landmark during a high-scoring contest against India at the Holkar Stadium, even as the hosts claimed a 14-run win to take a 2-1 series lead. Chasing India’s total of 223, the Caribbean side finished on 209 for seven.
To make history, their batters cleared the boundary 13 times, pushing their all-time T20I six tally past the magic 2,000 mark. Before the match, West Indies had 1,997 sixes as they closely followed the historic record. The aggressive approach that has long defined Caribbean cricket finally delivered a historic first.
West Indies makes history, becomes first team in T20 history to record 2000 sixes; India closely follows
The six-hitting record is the latest chapter in West Indies’ long association with T20 cricket’s most spectacular shot. From Chris Gayle’s record-breaking feats to the explosive contributions of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and the current generation of power hitters, the team has consistently led the way in clearing the ropes. Reaching 2,000 sixes first is a fitting statistical recognition of that style. India’s own aggressive batting philosophy under recent captains has kept them within touching distance.
The proximity of the two tallies reflects the evolution of T20 cricket itself as the boundaries have grown shorter while bats have improved. Following this, the scoring rates have climbed dramatically over the past decade and a half. What once seemed an extraordinary individual achievement is now a cumulative team milestone. Hope acknowledged after the match that small margins had decided the contest. He said:
“Probably with the ball, we could’ve executed a little bit better.”
The West Indies captain added:
“Those little margins would be the deciding factor come the end of the game.”
India and New Zealand follow
As for India, they are close behind the West Indies. They are on or just below 1,997 sixes after the game, meaning they could join the 2,000 club as early as the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday. On the other hand, New Zealand trail in third place with around 1,585, underlining how far ahead the two leading teams have pulled clear in the power-hitting stakes. The milestone carried extra resonance because it arrived on a night when India successfully defended a total for the first time on this tour.
India vs West Indies full of team and individual records
West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to bowl, only for Abhishek Sharma to launch a blistering counter-attack. The left-hander scored 69 off just 30 balls, including five sixes and six fours, and shared a rapid 108-run stand with Ishan Kishan, who recorded 37 off 18.
Abhishek also became the quickest player to reach 2,000 T20I runs during his innings as the match was full of team and individual records. India eventually finished on 223 all out after a late wobble. Roston Chase (2 for 38) and Shamar Springer (2 for 50) claimed key wickets to restrict what had threatened to become an even larger total on a ground with short boundaries and some variable bounce. In reply, West Indies lost Hope cheaply, bowled by Arshdeep Singh for five in the second over.
Shimron Hetmyer (43 off 26) and Kamil Pooran (42 off 27) rebuilt the innings with a 60-run partnership that featured several maximums. Pooran in particular contributed three sixes in one over before falling. Sherfane Rutherford added 32, and Shamar Springer produced a late flourish with an unbeaten 35 off 11 balls that included four sixes. Yet the required rate climbed too high. Arshdeep Singh was named Player of the Match for his 3 for 44, removing Hope early and returning at the death to claim Rutherford and Keemo Paul.
Naman Dhir also added a contribution with 2 for 39. The Indian bowlers showed far greater control than in the previous match in Ranchi, where West Indies had successfully chased 250. The series now moves to Hyderabad for the fourth T20I on 14 October, followed by a final match.
India hold the advantage, but West Indies have already shown they can chase large totals and produce match-winning power-hitting. Both sides will continue to trade sixes, and the race to 2,000 for India is likely to be settled within the next two games. For the visitors, the 2,000-six landmark stands as a permanent marker of their influence on the shortest format. In an era defined by big hitting, they reached the landmark first and did so in the middle of a competitive, high-scoring series against one of the strongest T20 sides in the world.
India leads the series 2-1; when is the next match?
While the fourth of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, in Hyderabad, the last one will be played in Bangalore on Saturday, October 17. Both matches will begin at 7:00 PM IST. India currently leads the series 2-1, having won the first and third.
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