After defeating the hosts by 68 in the first T20I, the World No.1 T20 team India now will be eyeing to win the second to carry forward the momentum when they walk into field to play the second of the series on Monday at Warner Bros in St Kitts.
The stars of the first T20 for India in batting was none other than the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and the veteran Dinesh Karthik. Sharma, who took the charge from beginning and even after wickets falling down from the other end he remained calm and continued to score runs.
Dines Karthik who came at crease when India at 127 for 5 in 15 overs, turned the tables for the visitors with his blistering 41-run knock off 17 balls to guide India reach 191-run mark in 20 overs.
Later on, Indian bowlers dominated the game and restricted the West Indies side for just 122 to claim a huge victory.
IND Vs WI 2nd T20 Playing XI (Predicted):
India XI
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi
West Indies XI
Nicholas Pooran (c), Rovman Powell (vc), Shamarh Brooks, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith
Team Combinations
Indian team are on track to try every possible opening combination to fit adjustment before the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 and ICC T20 World Cup. In the first T20 they have tried with Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav and will most likely to follow the same.
Shreyas Iyer, who was given the opportunity to bat at no.3 in the ODI series, and was excelled in that position, again asked to bat at one down, although he failed in the shortest format as he got out on duck in the first T20.
Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya will be there to handle middle order department. While Dinesh Karthik will handle the finisher responsibility like he did in the first match. Ravindra Jadeja, whether he will bat at no. 6 or 7 will depend on team’s situation.
T20 specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the fast bowling department for India like always, alongside the young Arshdeep Singh. While the veteran Ravichandran Ashwin, who brought back into team for this series, did wonders in the first T20 by picking up two wickets will possibly play in the second T20 too along with young Ravi Bishnoi.
The West Indies’ opening duo of Kyle Myers and Shamarh Brooks will lead the charge, while as per team’s new strategy Jason Holder will play at No. 3 and be followed by a dependent middle order of Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer.
Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein Keemo Paul and Alzarri Joseph will be crucial bowlers for West Indies against India in the second T20I.
Key players to watch out for in India versus West Indies 1st T20
The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who is in red hot form just at the right time will be deadly to handle for the West Indies bowlers. In the first T20, he smashed a blistering 64 off 44, and everyone knows what the hitman can do on his day.
Dinesh Karthik, who showed the trailer of his brilliant batting during the death will be dangerous batter to bowl to Just like the first T20I, he will try to change the game towards his team’s side with his aggressive batting in the second game too.
While it will be interesting to see how West Indies will tackle Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the initial overs and the spin magician Ravichandran Ashwin during the middle orders.
Kyle Myers and Nicholas Pooran could give some headache to visitors. While Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer will also look to make as many runs as possible to be back in form.