West Indies sealed their third consecutive T20I series win against Bangladesh on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, even before the second match ended — a dominant run that’s left the home team reeling and fans scrambling for live streams. The game, played at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram, kicked off at 6:00 PM local time (5:30 PM IST), with West Indies Cricket Team led by captain Shai Hope and Bangladesh Cricket Board’s side under Litton Das. But here’s the twist: India got no TV broadcast. Not a single channel. Just FanCode.
India’s Streaming Only Situation
For millions of Indian cricket fans, this match was a digital-only affair. FanCode became the sole gateway, streaming live from 5:30 PM IST. No Star Sports. No Sony. Not even a highlights reel on YouTube. It’s a quiet but significant shift — one that reflects how streaming platforms are quietly sidelining traditional broadcasters for smaller series. The absence of a TV feed didn’t go unnoticed. Social media lit up with complaints, memes, and hashtags like #WhereIsTheBroadcast. Fans in Pakistan had Tapmad; Bangladesh had T Sports, which drew over 306,000 views on YouTube. But in India? Silence on TV. Just the app.A Series Already Decided
The result wasn’t a surprise. West Indies had already wrapped up the series before the second T20I even began. That’s right — they’d won the first match, and the math was brutal: even if Bangladesh won this one, West Indies could still clinch the series with a win in the third. The numbers tell the story: this is West Indies’ second T20I series win of 2025, following their sweep over Ireland. And for Bangladesh? It’s their third straight T20I series loss at home to the Caribbean side. The pattern is clear: when West Indies tour Bangladesh, they don’t just compete — they conquer.ODI Series Echoes in T20I Chaos
The preceding ODI series — which Bangladesh won 2-1 — only made the T20I collapse more painful. In the opener, Rishad Hossain ripped through West Indies with 6-35, one of the best bowling spells in recent T20 history. Then came the second ODI: West Indies made history by bowling 50 overs of pure spin. A tactic so unusual, it had commentators scratching their heads. Bangladesh responded with Soumya Sarkar’s blistering 91 in the decider, sealing the ODI series with a 179-run win. But momentum didn’t carry over. In T20s, the wind changed. Fast.Team Changes and Tactical Shifts
Bangladesh’s lineup for the second T20I saw a surprise: Jaker Ali replaced Nurul Hasan Sohan in the XI. A small change, but significant. Nurul, a steady middle-order presence, had been a fixture. Jaker, younger, more aggressive, hinted at Bangladesh’s desperation to spark something — anything — in the batting order. Meanwhile, West Indies’ lineup remained unchanged: Shai Hope leading from the front, Jason Holder bowling sharp bouncers, and Rovman Powell ready to explode at the death. The live commentary from India Today noted Holder’s 15.4 over: a high, tight bouncer that had Tanzid Hasan ducking instinctively. No appeal. Just silence. A moment that summed up Bangladesh’s night.
What’s Next? The Final Stand
The third and final T20I is set for Friday, October 31, 2025, at the same Chattogram ground, with the first ball due at 12:00 PM GMT. Bangladesh won’t be playing for the series — it’s already gone. But they’re playing for pride. For morale. For the future. Coaches are likely to give more chances to young players like Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shoriful Islam. West Indies, meanwhile, may rotate — they’ve already achieved their goal. For them, this is a training ground. For Bangladesh, it’s a lifeline.Why This Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
This series isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about visibility. About access. About how cricket is changing in the digital age. India’s fans — the biggest cricket market on earth — are being pushed to apps. And while FanCode delivers the feed, it doesn’t replace the communal experience of watching on TV. What happens when smaller series get buried behind paywalls and apps? What happens when the next generation only knows cricket through their phones? The game risks becoming fragmented. And that’s the real loss.Frequently Asked Questions
Why wasn’t the Bangladesh vs West Indies T20I broadcast on Indian TV channels?
Indian broadcasters like Star Sports and Sony Sports opted not to air the series, likely due to lower viewership expectations compared to India’s home matches or high-profile bilateral series. FanCode secured exclusive digital rights, reflecting a trend where streaming platforms take over rights for non-India-centric fixtures, even when Indian fans are the largest audience.
How did West Indies win the T20I series before the second match ended?
West Indies won the first T20I on October 27, and since the series is best-of-three, they only needed one more win to clinch. Even if Bangladesh had won the second match, West Indies could still have won the series by taking the third. So technically, the series was mathematically secured after the first win — though the second match confirmed it.
Who replaced Nurul Hasan Sohan in Bangladesh’s second T20I XI, and why?
Jaker Ali replaced Nurul Hasan Sohan, a middle-order batter known for his stability. The change was likely tactical — Bangladesh needed more aggression in the middle order after struggling against West Indies’ pace and spin combo. Jaker, a left-handed hitter with a higher strike rate, was brought in to inject energy, though he hasn’t yet delivered in international cricket.
What’s the historical significance of West Indies winning three straight T20I series in Bangladesh?
It’s unprecedented. No visiting team has ever won three consecutive T20I series against Bangladesh on home soil. West Indies’ consistency here — especially after losing the ODI series — shows their T20 adaptability and Bangladesh’s vulnerability in shorter formats. It also highlights a growing trend: Caribbean teams are becoming T20 specialists, even on pitches that traditionally favor spin-heavy sides like Bangladesh’s.
Why is the third T20I still being played if the series is already decided?
Cricket series are scheduled in advance, and even when outcomes are sealed, teams play for development, experience, and pride. For Bangladesh, it’s a chance to test young players like Tanzim Hasan Sakib. For West Indies, it’s about maintaining rhythm and evaluating squad depth ahead of global tournaments. Plus, broadcasters and sponsors still need content — so the match goes on.
How did Rishad Hossain’s 6-35 in the ODI opener impact this T20I series?
That performance gave Bangladesh belief — but it also exposed West Indies’ batting fragility against pace and swing. Yet in T20s, West Indies adjusted. They prioritized power-hitting over technical defense, and Bangladesh’s bowlers couldn’t replicate the same control. Rishad’s heroics became a footnote — a reminder of what could’ve been, not what was.