India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I: Match Preview, Playing XI and broadcast details

Less than 48 hours after a six-wicket drubbing on a dewy night against India, West Indies will walk out to correct themselves in the second rubber of three-game series at the same venue – Eden Gardens in Kolkata – aiming to push things into a decider on February 20.

Four matches into the tour, the men from the Caribbean are yet to get off the mark, having endured a 0-3 clean sweep in the preceding ODI series. While a ruthless India neatly illustrated how wide the gulf between them and their rivals is in the 50-over format, T20Is, West Indies’ strongest suit, were expected to be more competitive.

In a sense, West Indies fared alright on those expectations even as the margin of India’s victory would belie that: they had their moments and were not outshone as despondently in Kolkata as in any of the games in Ahmedabad. But, to gun down sides of India’s caliber, that too in their backyard, need owning more moments than West Indies eventually did.

West Indies’ T20I unit is one filled with match-winners, each in their XI capable to win games single-handedly – and that in a team sport like cricket, where collective efforts would commonsensically be the formula for success instead of individual brilliance. West Indies, though, can falsify that maxim and prove to be the exception on their day.

On February 15, however, none in their XI could summon such match-winning form, with the batters leaving their bowlers to defend a sub-par total with a wet ball. Meanwhile, that they even breached the 150-mark was thanks to a calculatedly aggressive 43-ball 61 from vice-captain Nicholas Pooran in the face of adversity.

Speaking of moments West Indies had, India witnessed an ephemeral stutter in the chase, losing three wickets in quick time before the Suryakumar Yadav-Venkatesh Iyer alliance evaded any mishap.

But the brief hiccup aside, positives were in plenty, with Rohit Sharma throwing caution into a bin en route to his stroke-filled 19-ball 40 around an uncharacteristically slow Ishan Kishan alongside. Then, debutant Ravi Bishnoi proved to be West Indies’ biggest nemesis with a Player-of-the-Match 2/17, redeeming himself after a fielding faux pas – he mistakenly let his foot touch boundary cushion after completing a catch in the deep – that reprieved Pooran off Yuzvendra Chahal on just 8 earlier.

India would want to brush off Kishan’s agonising knock as a one-off, although you would suspect if the same could be said for Virat Kohli, who tallied 26 from three ODIs and fell for 17 in the previous game in (yet) another confident but brief stay. A Kohli masterclass has been long due. Would Friday be the day?

With the series on the line, the margin of error for the visitors is zero, as a loss on February 18 will seal the series for India. Despite the win in the first game, however, Rohit and co. will be complacent at their own peril against West Indies.

Pitch and conditions

India’s toss fortune has significantly changed under Rohit Sharma, who won an important one in the previous game. Indian spinners found grip and turn and pacers delivered with precision with a drier ball, but West Indies bowlers’ struggle was evident as dew set in in the night and batters made hay. The toss will be a crucial factor once again. Expect another balanced track with good bounce and takings for both batters and bowlers.

Team combination for IND vs WI

India

After a near-clinical win, there will be no merit in tinkering the combination. However, some inevitable changes are on the cards as Deepak Chahar injured his wrist in the field. Mohammed Siraj is likely to replace him.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal

West Indies

Jason Holder, who sat out of the first game after a chest blow during training, is expected to walk back in at the expense of Romario Shepherd.

Predicted XI: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Sheldon Cottrell

India vs West Indies Head-to-Head

Played – 18 | India – 11 | West Indies – 6 | Tied – 0| NR – 1

India vs West Indies Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 7:00 PM IST

TV – Star Sports Network

Live Streaming – Disney+Hotstar