3 Reasons why India can whitewash West Indies in T20I series

After registering a comprehensive 3-0 win in the One Day International series, an upbeat Indian team would be hoping to replicate a similar performance in the five-match T20I series, the first of which will be played at the Brian Lara Stadium Tarouba, Trinidad on Friday, July 29. Rohit Sharma who was rested for the ODIs will be back to lead the Men in Blue in the shortest format and he would be looking to make his bat do the talking in order to rediscover his rhythm on the 22 yards before the two major tournaments this year.

Ahead of the first T20I, there are a few reasons why India who have been on a roll in the shortest format since November last year will succeed in registering a whitewash over the Windies in the five T20Is. Even though the two-time T20 world champions enjoy home advantage, the Indian team might end up outclassing them in all five encounters due to some or the other reason.

3 Reasons why India can whitewash West Indies in the T20I series

3. Return of India’s star players

The five-match T20I series marks the return of India’s key players including the likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, and Hardik Pandya. India already have a solid middle-order with Suryakumar Yadav in the form of his life and they would now be expecting Rohit to fire all cylinders.

Now, should there be collective performances from Karthik, Pant, and Pandya in the middle order, not only will they decimate the opposition in the middle and death overs, but the pressure would be too much for the opposition bowlers to handle despite having some gifted bowlers and favourable conditions.

Thus, the return of some of the key players in the visitors’ squad will certainly be a threat to the Caribbeans which can work extremely well in the Rohit Sharma-led side’s favour.

2. India’s death bowling abilities

India might have rested their key bowler Jasprit Bumrah for this series but the pace bowling attack is still very much potent. The veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been around for almost every T20I series this year and has delivered the goods when needed the most. He is difficult to get away with in the final overs of the innings as well.

Add to it, Harshal Patel’s excellent record in T20 cricket over the last couple of years. He has done well especially in the death overs and Rohit Sharma, the skipper, often keeps his last three overs at the fag end of the innings.

Arshdeep Singh is fast emerging as the left-arm pacer India craved for so many years since Zaheer Khan retired. He has only played one T20I so far against England but he is the future and might get more chances in this series. Overall, the pace attack comprising of a couple more talented bowlers make India the favourites for this series.

1. India’s consistency in the shortest format

India have been a force to reckon with in the T20Is since the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE last November. The Men in Blue have been on a roll in the shortest format and barring a 2-2 drawn home series against South Africa, they have managed to register wins over New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and England in the last few months.

In fact, India had blanked the West Indies 3-0 in the home series in February and more importantly, also hold a superior head-to-head record against the Caribbeans in the shortest format.

The Men in Maroon have won against India only on six occasions in their 20 T20I meetings. Therefore, this gives an added advantage for India to register a 5-0 clean sweep against the Windies in the upcoming series.