India takes on the West Indies in a three-match series starting today at Eden Gardens in Kolkata today at 7 pm.
In the last T20 World cup held in UAE in October-November, India were the pre-tournament favourites, but they were eliminated in the group stage.
However, in their recent ODI series against West Indies, the Indian cricket team made a clean sweep in three ODI matches at Ahmedabad.
The West Indies’ 0-3 defeat should not imply that they will be easy prey in the T20I series as well. In the series against England, the West Indies not only hit more sixes than the visitors, but they also improved their strike rotation and reduced the number of dot balls.
With several major players ill or resting, India is hoping to give the fresh players adequate game time to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. However, captain Rohit Sharma noted that the team isn’t eager to try too many new things and that the players have already been told what roles they would play in the series.
With Rahul out of the series, Rohit will be joined at the top by either Kishan or Ruturaj Gaikwad. Thakur, Chahar, Harshal, and Venkatesh Iyer provide the batting line-up with some depth.
India Squad for T20 series: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel.
West Indies squad for T20 series: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr.
Catch the game live on Star Sports and Hotstar.
India won the toss and chose to bowl.
