India and West Indies are scheduled to play in the 1st T20I match of the 3-match series tonight. This match is happening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
India has won the last 6 T20I matches against the West Indies. India is playing some decent cricket in this format but they haven’t been at their best. Meanwhile, West Indies can’t put together a good team performance in T20Is. Still, India shouldn’t take West Indies likely as they have proven time and again that they can surprise the big teams in important series.
The pitch at Hyderabad has traditionally helped the fast bowlers, but the batsman can score big runs if they try and give themselves a few deliveries to settle in a T20I match. The team winning the toss will look to chase as the weather is set fair, and there is a chance of dew falling on the field as the match goes on.
Also, watch out for the third umpire tracking front-foot no-balls for the first time during this T20I series.
India
India comes into this T20I match after winning the last series at home versus Bangladesh by 2-1 (3), and drawing the series versus South Africa at 1-1 (3). Although they are still searching for their best team combination, as they look ahead to the ICC T20 WC next year.
India is currently in 5th position in the recently released ICC T20I rankings. Its because strategy of giving youngsters a chance to seal their spot in the T20I team, and their performances have been bit inconsistent. Players like Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube are the ones who did well in the last T20I series to get more game time.
Virat Kohli returns to the T20I setup as Captain for India, after taking a rest from the T20I series against Bangladesh. Also making a comeback to the T20I team are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Rohit Sharma has been in superb T20I form, and his contributions are going to be vital for India as they are missing Shikhar Dhawan with injury. Deepak Chahar is high on form and confidence after taking a hat-trick and registering career-best T20I performance against Bangladesh.
Players to watch out for India are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Deepak Chahar, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
T20I Form: WWLLW
India Squad: Virat Kohli ©, Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson, Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar.
West Indies
West Indies, the defending ICC T20 WC champions are no. 10th in the ICC T20I rankings. In their most recent T20I series against Afghanistan at Dehradun, they lost by 2-1 (3).
West Indies recent form in T20I format has been poor as they are struggling to put together a decent team in T20I matches. They have appointed a new captain Kieron Pollard in T20Is by removing Jason Holder in September.
After losing the first T20I series in-charge of the West Indies, Kieron Pollard is looking to lead his team well and make a mark as captain against the home team.
Young players like Hayden Walsh and Brandon King have been selected by West Indies. It's because of their good performances in recently concluded T20I franchise tournament in the Carribean. Also, West Indies are expecting some inspired performances from the senior players like Lendl Simmons, and Jason Holder, in particular, to compete well in this T20I series.
Players to watch out for West Indies are Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sheldon Cottrell.
T20I Form: LLWLL
West Indies Squad: Kieron Pollard ©, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh, Sheldon Cottrell, Nicholas Pooran, Kesrick Williams, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford, Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen.
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