IND vs WI: 1st T20I to be held behind closed doors

An upbeat India under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma ended up whitewashing the West Indies in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series and now the focus shifts towards the final leg of the home bilateral series, the T20Is. Both teams will face off against each other in the three-match T20I series with the first one being played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, February 16. Meanwhile, it has been reported that the series opener would be played behind closed doors.

Even though there will be no crowd for the first match, the spectators will be allowed inside the stadium for the last two games. As per reports, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow spectators at Eden Gardens to watch the final two T20Is which will be played on February 18 and 20 respectively.

Final two T20Is to have spectators

“The BCCI has allowed only upper tier and hospitality boxes for sponsors and representatives for the first match,” CAB said in a statement as quoted as saying by rediff.com.

“CAB will intimate all stakeholders once it receives feedback from the board,” it stated further.

The Indian team would be heading into the T20I series after having whitewashed New Zealand last November and they would be looking forward to continuing the momentum as Rohit & Co. eye the ICC T20 World Cup title in Australia later this year. If the Indian team does succeed in managing another clean sweep, it would be their third straight white-ball bilateral series clean sweep under Rohit Sharma.

The Hitman had succeeded Virat Kohli as India’s skipper in the shortest format after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE where they failed to make the semis.

At the same time, a new-look West Indies seem to be on a mission in the shortest format of the game having beaten a formidable England side in the five-match home T20I series 3-2. They would certainly be eager to bring their A-game with a few of their players already having the experience of playing IPL on Indian wickets.