India vs Windies, 1st T20I, Preview: Strengthened Caribbeans look for redemption in the shortest format

India have dominated the Windies in the Test and ODI series comprehensively so far on the tour. Though it could be argued that the visitors put up more than a decent show in the limited-overs format, the Men in Blue bossed the latter half of the contest with big wins. But when it comes to the shortest format of the game, Windies become a powerhouse suddenly and it should not be a surprise if they go on to win this three-match contest.

There is a completely different approach from both set of selectors as far as the T20Is are concerned. The Caribbean side put their strong squad in this format while Team India more often than not opt to rest their key players. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are not playing this series which gives an opportunity to the youngsters to prove their mettle. This is also a great chance for the players who warmed the bench during the ODIs.

Meanwhile, there will be a positive energy in the tourists’ camp having boosted with the inclusion of the T20 specialists. Also, the fact that the series opener is being played at the Eden Gardens will make them feel better. This was the venue where they clinched their second World T20 trophy by beating England thanks to those marauding sixes from Carlos Brathwaite, the current skipper of the team, off Ben Stokes in the last over of the final.

Team Combinations

India

The team’s mantle has once again taken over by Rohit Sharma and he will open the innings alongside Shikhar Dhawan. KL Rahul will take over Kohli’s number three position while it is likely that Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey will look after the middle-order. Rishabh Pant will don the gloves and bat at number six while the all-rounder Krunal Pandya will be making his international debut it seems.

The bowling quartet of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will look to restrict the opposition batsmen who love to tonk the ball out of the park, Krunal tight bowling will also be helpful in these conditions. Meanwhile, the others in the squad will have to wait for their chance.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav.

Windies

Windies are devoid of their best openers in this format as well and it will be a completely new opening pair for them. Nicholas Pooran and the experienced Denesh Ramdin might take up the responsibility having opened the innings before in the CPL. Some brute power will follow in the middle-order like Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, and Darren Bravo.

The fact that Pollard and Bravo are back will make them feel a lot better. The skipper Brathwaite is expected to up his game at the venue where he hogged all the limelight while the likes of Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy and Khary Pierre will take care of the bowling.

Probable XI: Nicholas Pooran, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Carlos Brathwaite (c), Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Khary Pierre.

Focus will be on

KL Rahul (India)

KL Rahul will be finally getting a chance to play. He warmed the bench right through the ODI series and one would hope that the talented batsman hasn’t lost his touch. Rahul played only a solitary in the Asia Cup and slammed a half-century and will be hoping to carry a similar kind of form in this game. Batting at number three, he will certainly hold the key for Team India.

Shimron Hetmyer (Windies)

The flamboyant left-hander has excited many with his fearless style of play in the ODIs. Hetmyer will be an even bigger threat in the T20Is and no wonder his performance will determine how well the visitors will fare with the bat. Like Rahul, even he will bat at number three and if his CPL form is anything to go by, the Indian bowlers are definitely up against it in this series.

Head to Head

Matches – 6 | India won – 2 | Windies – 3 | NR – 1

Stat Attack

3 – Kuldeep Yadav needs only three wickets complete 100 scalps in the T20 format.

23 – Shikhar Dhawan needs only 23 runs to become the sixth Indian to complete 1000 runs in the T20Is.

Broadcast Details

TV – Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD

Live Streaming – Hotstar

Match Timings: 19:00 IST; 19:00 Local

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