The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata were awash in West Indies flavor this Saturday as the Caribbean side began their campaign against Group C. Scotland in the year T20 World Cup 2026. In a match defined by historic milestones and explosive striking, Shimron Hetmyer Crossing the legendary mark set by the Boss of the Universe, he came into the limelight by writing his name in the record books, Chris Gayle.
The atmosphere was electric as Scotland won the toss and elected to field hoping to take advantage of the evening dew. However, what followed was a masterclass in modern T20 batting from the West Indies, who firmly asserted his dominance on the global stage with a magnificent 182/5 in 20 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer overtakes Chris Gayle to make elite list for West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026
The defining moment of the match came in the 14th round. Known for his talent and fearless approach, Hetmyer faced off Oliver Davidson with the intent of a man on a mission. In the third ball of the over, Davidson tried to hide the ball in the wide tramlines outside off. Hetmyer executed a fine inside-out drive over the covers, showing incredible poise and facility.
As the ball cleared the rope for a six, the scoreboard confirmed a piece of history: Hetmyer reached 50 off just 22 balls.
With this, he officially broke the West Indies record for fastest 50 in the T20 World Cup. The previous record was held by Gayle who scored a 23-ball half-century against Australia in June 2009. Overcoming a titan like Gayle in such a prestigious tournament puts Hetmyer in the elite bracket of Caribbean power hitters. His final score of 64 came from 36 balls punctuated by 5 massive sixes that provided the backbone of the West Indian charge.
West Indies dominate the all-round total
The West Indian innings was a tale of two halves. It was fuzzy stable with Powerplay Brandon King (35) and captain Shai Umid (19) Putting on 54 for the first wicket in 8.2 overs. At half-time, the score was a modest 62/2, leaving the match delicately balanced.
Once the drinks stopped, the pace changed dramatically. Hetmyer united his forces Rowman Powell (14 of 24) To dismantle the Scottish bowling attack. The duo added 50 runs in just 19 balls, a whirlwind partnership that left the Scots searching for a reply.
Despite hitting late, including a double strike Safyan Sharif and Brad Currie in the final, but the damage has already been done. Sherfane Rutherford’s quick 26 and the final touch Romario Shepherd It ensured Windies reached the total with a current win probability of 56.5%. As the players headed towards the innings break, the talk of Kolkata was not just the score, but Hetmyer’s coronation as the new king of the Caribbean.
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