India vs West Indies, 3rd T20I: Match Preview, Playing XI and broadcast details

Few teams can come close to matching the dominant force India are at home. They were always the favourites going against West Indies, and they have successfully lived up to that billing, solidifying a brilliant home record and furthering an enviable streak that has now swollen to six consecutive home T20I series victories.

February 20th, when India hosts the West Indies for the final game of the tour, will be a chance for Rohit Sharma to register consecutive clean-sweeps and start his full-time T20I captaincy career with an unblemished scoreline, having done that in the ODIs with a 3-0 win recently.

While ongoing one was like any other home series that India started as the overwhelming favourites of, they will be particularly pleased about the clinical efficiency with which they have ticked many boxes. India have been ruthless in not letting West Indies post scores of substances when the latter have batted first, whereas the bowlers have delivered the goods convincingly when they had to defend.

They restricted the visitors to a sub-200 total in the first ODI and hunted it down with 22 overs left in the kitty, and then defended two modest totals in the ensuing 50-over fixtures to seal the series in style. That theme continued in the shorter variant of the game, with India curtailing the West Indies to 157 before surpassing the line with seven balls to spare in the first T20I, and then defending 187 in the next to establish they can win games even without the coin landing their way on dew-laden nights.

The previous fixture in many ways was a perfect script, and that was when both openers failed. However, interesting is the word to define the manner in which India have found answers elsewhere when a specific department has malfunctioned. If the top-order failed, middle-order rose up; if the middle-order trembled, the lower-order backed up; if pacers went awry, spinners saved, and when spinners were taken to the cleaners, the pacers tightened the noose.

With an eye on the T20 World Cup that is not too far away, India would just be content if they can continue in the same vein. But what of the West Indies, who are playing the format that is most dear to them? They came close to opening their account on February 18 after four failed attempts on the tour but met with a similar fate, this time thanks to India’s disciplined death bowling after the batters did their job.

Chasing 187, both Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell rode on luck and bludgeoned ballistic sixties that threatened India to face a decider, but were left eight short of the target with Bhuvneshwar Kumar bringing all his experience at the forefront to deliver an extraordinary penultimate over that left Harshal Patel with 25 to defend. In the mood Powell was in, he briefly refreshed the memories of “remember the name, Carlos Brathwaite” after walloping two giant sixes when four were needed to take his team home, but Harshal held his nerves to ensure his team sealed the fate of the series at the earliest juncture.

West Indies, though, will feel pleased about managing to put India under the pump after a lopsided ODI leg that saw them concede games rather meekly. If they can manage to push just that little bit extra in the next game, they will board the flight back home with some smile.

Pitch and conditions

The track has been slightly two-paced on occasions in two games thus far, but nothing short of a good one for batting. Another similar surface with trustworthy bounce is expected. Dew has played a prominent role in both games hitherto, with the defending teams spending plenty of time with the towel in hand. Conventional wisdom will suggest chasing to be the preferred choice upon calling correctly.

Playing combination for IND vs WI

India

Barring injuries, India had every reason to field an unchanged combination and they did that on Thursday. Even though that reason still exists, it is bound to make at least two changes, with Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant released out of the team bubble and rested for the upcoming Sri Lanka T20Is as well.

Ishan Kishan has struggled in both games so far that has made noises for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s inclusion louder. With vacant spots available, Gaikwad is highly likely to feature in the XI, as are other benchwarmers. Rohit Sharma admitted excluding Shreyas Iyer was “hard on him”, so he is due a look-in too.

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar/Shardul Thakur, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi

West Indies

West Indies have a clean bill of health and are unlikely to change after they slotted in Jason Holder at the expense of Fabian Allen in the previous encounter. Meanwhile, they will want better starts from the openers, Brandon King and Kyle Mayers, who combined scored 31 off 40 in the second game in a 187-chase. In hindsight, one could well argue West Indies lost the game there.

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

India vs West Indies Head-to-Head

Played – 19 | India – 12 | 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