West Indies chase rare series win as international cricket returns to Chinnaswamy

Bengaluru has waited two years for international cricket to return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The occasion coincides with Dussehra celebrations in the city, and the fifth T20I between India and West Indies offers a fitting reason for another evening of festivity. The venue missed out on hosting both the Women’s ODI World Cup last year and the Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, and last hosted New Zealand in a Test in 2024, almost to this day. It returns to the international calendar with a series-decider, and the promise of a contest that has grown increasingly captivating. The stakes may not extend to the next T20 World Cup, still two years away, but the series has served different purposes for the two sides. India, the defending champions, have used the contest to explore options around their established core.