Why the India vs West Indies 5th T20I Ended With No Result: The Five-Over Rule Explained

The fifth and final T20 International between India and West Indies in Bengaluru on 17 October 2026 should have decided the series. Instead, rain had the final say. Play started 1 hour 45 minutes late, the match was cut to nine overs a side, and India raced to 118-5 in 7.4 overs before the rain returned. The umpires abandoned the match with no result, and the series finished level at 2-2.

Many fans asked why India’s big total did not count for anything. The answer is the minimum-overs rule.

The five-over rule in T20 cricket

Under the ICC’s T20 International playing conditions, a match needs a minimum number of overs before it can produce a result. In a T20 match, the team batting second must be able to face at least five overs. If that is not possible, there is no result, however well the first team has batted.

In ODIs the equivalent figure is 20 overs for the team batting second.

In Bengaluru, India had not even finished their own reduced innings, and West Indies never batted. A result was impossible, so the match was abandoned.

Why the match was reduced to nine overs first

When the start of a match is delayed, overs are taken away so the game can still finish within the time available. The umpires set a cut-off time; the later play starts, the fewer overs each side gets. Here the delay was long enough to reduce the match to nine overs a side before a ball was bowled.

When overs are lost during a match, the DLS method is used to set a fair revised target for the side batting second. That only applies if the second innings can last at least the minimum number of overs.

What “no result” means for series and tables

• Bilateral series: a no-result counts as neither a win nor a loss. That is why India and West Indies shared the series 2-2.
• Tournaments and leagues: both teams normally get one point each.
• Net run rate: runs and overs from abandoned matches are usually left out of net run rate calculations.

If you follow a tournament where a washout affects qualification, our net run rate calculator shows how the standings are separated, and the run rate calculator helps during a shortened chase.

Key facts from the match

• Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 17 October 2026.
• West Indies captain Shai Hope chose to field after the toss.
• India scored 118-5 in 7.4 overs, hitting eight fours and seven sixes. Naman Dhir was unbeaten on 24 from six balls.
• Ishan Kishan struck the 100th six of the series.

Learn more about how cricket matches are run in our cricket rules guide.

Sources: Al Jazeera / AFP match report, 17 October 2026; ICC playing conditions for men’s T20 Internationals.