Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Shreyas Iyer barely knew where he was when he arrived in Lucknow. Three days earlier, he had been part of the Indian team that won gold in men’s cricket at the Asian Games, and after an exhausting journey back, there was little time to settle in before another international assignment.
There was barely enough time to think about the conditions, let alone dwell on the fatigue.
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Perhaps that was exactly what he needed.
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A few hours later, Iyer was walking off unbeaten on 102, having produced his maiden T20I century and powered India to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening match of the series.
“Exultant” was the word Iyer chose to describe his performance. It means elated and hugely satisfied, an apt description for a night when a hectic few days gave way to the biggest individual milestone of his T20I career.
“I was actually thinking about getting my first century, and it came through,” Iyer said at the post-match presentation. “I definitely want to say that dreams do come true.”
THREE DAYS, TWO CHALLENGES
The last few days had been about much more than travel. Iyer had just returned from the Asian Games, where India secured the men’s cricket gold medal on October 3. By October 6, he was back in national colours, leading India in another format.
Yet he refused to let the circumstances become an excuse.
“We just didn’t look at it as an excuse,” he said.
Instead, Iyer adapted quickly to the wicket and conditions. When India slipped to 35 for two inside four overs, the captain had another problem to solve.
He solved it with a bat in his hand.
IYER TAKES CHARGE
Abhishek Sharma fell for 21 in the third over, brilliantly caught by Shimron Hetmyer at long-off, before Sanju Samson departed for 11 in the following over. India had lost both openers and suddenly the onus was on Iyer to steady the chase.
He did much more than that.
Iyer and Ishan Kishan stitched together an unbeaten 137-run partnership for the third wicket, taking India from early uncertainty to complete control. Ishan played the supporting role while Iyer increasingly took charge.
The captain found boundaries all around the ground, combining classical strokeplay with growing aggression. A straight six over long-off off Shamar Springer was followed by a maximum against Akeal Hosein.
The fatigue from the journey was invisible. So were any concerns about the conditions.
Iyer simply settled into the innings, and once he found his rhythm, the acceleration came naturally.
THE MOMENT ARRIVES
The century arrived in spectacular fashion.
Iyer went after Roston Chase and launched the ball straight over long-on for six, reaching his hundred off 42 balls. It was an innings that combined elegance and aggression, transforming India’s chase into a procession.
It was also a record-breaking knock.
Iyer’s unbeaten 102 became the highest score by an India captain batting second in a T20I, surpassing Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 94 against West Indies in Hyderabad in 2019.
There was another striking number. Iyer’s last two T20 innings at this venue are both unbeaten hundreds. His previous knock at this ground came during IPL 2026 against the Lucknow Supergiants during the league-stages.
But his hundred was only one part of India’s dominant night.
Earlier, debutant Naman Dhir announced himself with three wickets. His off-spin produced figures of 3/31, while Kuldeep Yadav took 2/33 as India restricted West Indies to 171.
Dhir’s willingness to bowl in crucial moments impressed Iyer.
“He realized that the ball was turning, and then he capitalised on it,” the India captain said. “So commendable performance by him, and I love his attitude.”
NO ROOM FOR EXCUSES
India reached 172 for two in just 14.4 overs, extending their winning streak to 10 consecutive T20Is.
For Iyer, though, the evening carried a more personal significance.
He had travelled back from an Asian Games triumph, endured a hectic turnaround and arrived in Lucknow without the luxury of extensive preparation time. He admitted that after the journey, he did not even properly realise where he was.
Then he walked out to lead India.
Hours later, he had his maiden T20I hundred.
The circumstances could easily have provided reasons for a difficult evening. Instead, Iyer and India chose not to look for excuses. He adapted to the conditions, responded to the early wickets and eventually took the game away from West Indies.
There was something fitting about the way the milestone arrived. Iyer had been thinking about his first T20I century. When the opportunity presented itself, he made sure it was not allowed to slip away.
“Winning definitely tastes different,” he said.
On a night when the journey had been exhausting, Iyer’s mind stayed clear. By the time he walked off the field, he had every reason to feel exultant.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
