Shreyas Iyer shrugged off travel fatigue and jet lag to score a century on his T20I debut, guiding India to a comfortable eight-wicket win over West Indies in the opening match of the five-match series in Lucknow.

Iyer and several Indian teammates had just returned from Japan after winning the Asian Games gold medal, but it didn't affect their performance. Chasing 172, the India captain hit an unbeaten century as his men made light work of the 14.4 overs to take a 1-0 series lead.

'Dreams do come true': Shreyas Iyer reflects on maiden T20I century

Speaking after the match, Iyer said the team was drained due to the long travel but the players did not let it affect their minds.

“After the exhausting travel, I did not know where I was. I shouldn't wake up like this every day. Bowling first gave us momentum. We did not allow jet lag to take over,” Shreyas Iyer said.

“As we saw in the amazing contests between India and West Indies in the ODIs. It was important to stick to the process. Exultant! I was thinking about my first century, and dreams do come true.”

India made a statement with a complete all-round performance in the match as they chased down the 171 with more than five overs to spare after bundling out the Windies.

“Winning tastes different. If it is your day, win the game for the team. Overall it was a complete performance. If we can keep doing this we will be one of the most destructive teams in T20 cricket,” Iyer added.

The match also saw a dream debut for all-rounder Naman Dhir as he picked up three wickets. Iyer felt the young spinner had the right approach to bowl in the key moments.

“Dhir wanted to bowl in the crucial moments. He got rewards for taking the extra step on the turn. I love his approach,” the India captain said.

West Indies captain Shai Hope was disappointed with the batting as they lost four quick wickets after a stand of 63 runs for the fourth wicket between himself and Sherfane Rutherford.

Hope remained not out on 52 while Rutherford scored 56 as the pair added 63 runs for the fourth wicket in 35 balls. However, the Windies lost four wickets in the next six overs and were eventually bowled out for 171.

“We didn't get enough runs at the back end. We were very wasteful with the bat. You have to put the runs on the board and defend with the outfield. We didn't have that against India,” Hope said.

Hope also said that the two-spin attack choked their bowling options and added that his experienced teammate Roston Chase should have batted more at the back end. “Ideally, you want eight overs between the two spinners. We had only two, so it was a big ask for Chase. He needs to make an impact at the back end. There were many things.”

However, the West Indies captain had nothing but praise for Lucknow city as he enjoys batting here.

“I just love it here. Wherever I get an opportunity to come here, I love it,” he said.

Ishan Kishan, who opened the innings with Iyer, spoke about playing a supporting role as Iyer was in sublime form.

“He was in very good touch, and to be very honest, looking from the other end, I thought it was better to keep him on strike and not let the strike rotate. So my job was easy in the middle; just get off strike, and let him play as many deliveries as possible,” Kishan said.

Asked about when he knew he needed to keep Iyer on strike, Kishan added, “I think you get to know in the middle. How the other batter is timing the ball, whether I'm doing it better or he is. And he looked in very good touch today. And I was not in such good touch, to be very honest.

“So I just felt it was better to keep him on strike rather than be on strike and try those shots. At the same time, I wanted him to keep the strike going.”