Keemo Paul five-for propels West Indies to series‑levelling win over India in Hyderabad

Keemo Paul took five wickets for West Indies to drive a series‑levelling victory over India in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on October 14, 2026. The left‑arm fast bowler’s performance included two early breakthroughs and finished with a five‑wicket haul that swung the match in the visitors’ favour.

At the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, an older ball can grip the surface, offering an opening for bowlers prepared to vary their lengths and pace. ‘Execute or be executed,’ were his famous words to the Windies during the India series and he did just that. The 28‑year‑old, whose promising career has seen its share of injury interruptions, produced the figures that underpinned West Indies’ comeback.

Paul removed Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan within a four‑ball spell, using pace to cramp the batters and force edges, before trapping Nitish Kumar in the 19th over to dent India’s chances of a late recovery. He accounted for Prince Yadav and Axar Patel a few deliveries later to complete his five‑wicket haul.

The haul made Paul the first West Indian to register multiple fifers in T20 internationals. He also became only the second bowler to take a fifer against India in the format, after compatriot Obed McCoy’s six for 17 in Basseterre in 2022.

On his approach and preparation, Paul said: “We have some pretty long team bowling meetings. So we don’t take that (success with the ball) for granted. I knew what I wanted to do, I knew what my field setting was, and I knew my plan,” he said, adding, “Obviously, I won’t share my plan (with you), but I think I executed pretty well tonight.”

Reflecting on conditions and the match plan, Paul said: “From the batsmen’s perspective, after the first five overs, the message we got was it was a pretty good wicket. One or two balls were gripping, but other than that, it was pretty good. Normally, we weren’t getting any grip, but it actually worked here. The game plan was to stick bowling into the wicket as long as possible.” He also cautioned about the fine margins in the format: “The margin for error is very, very thin. It all comes down to execution. It’s just about one day at a time. It’s all about the process. Once you try to stick to the team plan as much as possible, I don’t think the (coaching) staff would have a problem (if it doesn’t work out in the end).”

The victory in Hyderabad levelled the series between West Indies and India, leaving the outcome of the T20I set open as the teams prepare for the remaining match(es) in the sequence.