India will aim to extend their lead in the five-match T20I series when they face West Indies in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on October 9. The hosts made a dominant start to the series, defeating the Caribbean side by eight wickets in Lucknow after chasing down 172 with 32 balls to spare.

While India’s bowling attack restricted West Indies to 171, their chase was headlined by a spectacular century from captain Shreyas Iyer. The right-hander smashed an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls, while Ishan Kishan provided excellent support during a crucial partnership.

West Indies, meanwhile, will be looking for a stronger batting performance after Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford provided the bulk of their resistance in the opening game. With both sides possessing several high-quality stroke-makers, the Ranchi contest could once again be decided by which batting unit handles the conditions better.

Here are the top three batters to watch out for in the second T20I between India and West Indies.

1. Shreyas Iyer

There could hardly be anyone else at the top of this list after what Shreyas Iyer produced in the opening T20I.

The Indian captain walked in with his team at 35/2 and immediately took responsibility for rebuilding the innings. Once settled, Iyer shifted gears spectacularly and turned the chase into a one-sided contest.

He finished unbeaten on 102 off just 43 deliveries, bringing up his maiden T20I century from 42 balls. His innings included a remarkable late assault against Roston Chase, with three sixes and a four coming in the 14th over before he completed his century two balls into the next over.

Iyer’s knock was particularly impressive because he initially played the role of an anchor before transforming into an explosive finisher. His ability to change gears without losing control will once again make him India’s biggest batting threat in Ranchi.

West Indies will need to find a way to restrict him during the middle overs, particularly with spin. If Iyer gets through the first few deliveries, he could once again dictate the tempo of the chase.

2. Shai Hope

Shai Hope was one of the few West Indies batters to make a substantial contribution in Lucknow and will be central to their hopes of levelling the series.

The West Indies captain scored 52 in the opening T20I, providing much-needed stability after his side lost wickets at regular intervals. His innings was particularly important because the Caribbean side struggled to maintain momentum through the middle overs.

Hope comes into the T20I series in excellent form. He had already produced two ODI centuries during the tour before adding another half-century in the opening T20I.

As captain and wicketkeeper, Hope has considerable responsibility, but his batting remains perhaps the most important part of West Indies’ plans. The team will need him to bat deep and allow aggressive players such as Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford to attack around him.

The Ranchi surface could offer a good platform for stroke-making, and Hope’s ability to construct an innings before accelerating makes him a major player to watch.

3. Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford completes the list after another powerful display in the opening match.

The left-hander scored a quickfire 56 off 31 balls, giving West Indies much-needed momentum during the latter stages of their innings. His ability to clear the boundary with minimal risk makes him particularly dangerous once the field restrictions disappear.

Rutherford’s innings was one of the major positives for West Indies despite their defeat. His aggressive approach can put pressure on India’s spinners and death-over bowlers, while his left-handed batting also provides variety to the Caribbean middle order.

However, Rutherford will need to convert his attacking starts into another substantial contribution if West Indies are to challenge India’s powerful batting lineup. With Hope capable of anchoring the innings, Rutherford can afford to play his natural attacking game.

His battle against India’s pace attack in the final overs could be one of the key contests of the match.