After defeating the hosts by 3-0 in the ODI series, the World No.1 T20 team India now will be eyeing to start their 5-match T20 series campaign against West Indies with a victory when they walk into field to play the first match of the series on Friday at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
Indian team, who were playing without their star players in the one-day internationals, managed to beat the hosts in all the fixtures. And now their main players are back except Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are back in the squad, the challenge for West Indies will be lot tougher.
This will be a crucial series for both the nations as for India there will be a two big tournaments coming up, while West Indies will straight away looking to balance the team combination. Let us have a look at IND Vs WI 1st T20 Playing XI.
IND Vs WI 1st T20 Playing XI (Predicted):
India XI
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel
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
After seeing a new opening combination of Shikhar Dhawan-Shubman Gill in the ODIs, team India will be seen back again with the Rohit Sharma-Ishan Kishan opening duo.
The current heartthrob of cricketing world, Suryakumar Yadav, who scored his maiden T20 century in his last game England in July, will bat at no.3, with the reliable wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant will bat at no.4, followed by Deepak Hooda and the destructive all-rounder Hardik Pandya at no.5 and 6, respectively.
While Dinesh Karthik, who rocked the stadium with his power-hitting in the IPL 2022 and received a recall to the Indian side will be a perfect choice to handle the finisher responsibility for the team while batting at no.7 position, and Ravindra Jadeja will be there as an all-rounder at no.8.
T20 specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the pacer’s department for India, alongside Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel.
The West Indies’ opening duo of Brandon King and Kyle Myers will lead the charge, while Shamarh Brooks will play at No. 3 and be followed by a dependent middle order of Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer, while Jason Holder and Odean Smith will be there as an all-rounders for the hosts.
Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph will be handy bowlers for West Indies against India in the second ODI.
Key players to watch out for in IND Vs WI 1st T20:
The biggest thread for the West Inside side in the first T2O would be to tackle the dangerous opening pair of team India, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
Suryakumar Yadav, who is in red-hot form these days and just completed his maiden T20 century, will be dangerous batter to bowl out. But, they anyhow will look to make a sound strategy for him as if he managed to be on crease for long, he will change the game towards his team’s side with his destructive batting.
While Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik could be mighty batters during the death overs. Well, it will be interesting to see how West Indies will tackle Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the initial overs.
Brandon King and Kyle Myers could give some headache to visitors. While Shamarh Brooks and Nicholas Pooran also are in good form which will also create a huge impact.
