Set 246 to win, India needed two runs off the last ball for a famous victory in the Florida sunshine.
But skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could only scoop a Dwayne Bravo delivery into the hands of Marlon Samuels at short third man to leave India agonisingly on 244-4.
Lokesh Rahul was unbeaten for India on 110 in just his fourth T20 match, hitting 12 fours and five sixes.
#WIvIND
— westindies (@westindies) August 27, 2016
1st T20
20 overs: IND 244-4
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
Samuels takes the catch at shirt third man
Windies WIN BY 1 run
BIG UP! Evin Lewis celebrates his amazing maiden T20 International century in just his second innings #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/avF2K5yGE7
— westindies (@westindies) August 27, 2016
The run feast in ends with West Indies beating India by 1 run in a thrilling last-ball finish. #TeamIndiaInUSA pic.twitter.com/9LBaK8uKvL
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 27, 2016