Action shifts to Kolkata for the T20Is as West Indies seek retribution

After thorough domination of the Caribbean visitors in the recently concluded ODI series, India will be taking the field against West Indies for the upcoming T20I bonanza. With eyes set on the prize, both the teams will have contrasting interests on the line as India plans to compound West Indies’ misery further while the visitors seek retribution.

West Indies is a formidable force when it comes to the shortest format of the game, considering the presence of exceptional power-hitters while India will be relying more on their glittering T20 top-order that stars the illustrious likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and an in-form Suryakumar Yadav.

However, this series will be the opening step of India’s preparatory path for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This will act as a stage for experiments that India will be looking forward to.

There will be questions about India’s flailing middle-order where the collapses have been way too frequent in recent times. Rishabh Pant will have quite a few eyes on him after his trysts of late. Even though he has been aggressive on most occasions, the approach has backfired way too frequently than being conducive. India will also be hoping that Virat Kohli returns to form after a silent ODI series.

West Indies will be high on confidence after a triumph against England in their last T20 series. They have a good deal of batting depth that will allow them to free their arms without much of a worry even if there is an early landslide.

Their bowling, however, will need a few amendments with their recent displays in the shortest format of the game being sourer instead of the miserly demeanour that a bowler expected in the shortest format of the sport.

Team news:

Just ahead of the T20 series, India was deprived of Washington Sundar who suffered an injury.  Kuldeep Yadav was asked to fill in the boots.

KL Rahul will also not be a part of the series after copping an upper left hamstring strain while fielding in the second ODI of the series.

Kieron Pollard’s availability is another major highlight for the upcoming game. Even though it was previously confirmed that the Caribbean skipper has recovered from his niggle, there are mismatches about this information.

However, chances are quite high for the West Indian muscleman making a return for the upcoming T20 series, eyeing it as a preparatory phase for the IPL and the World Cup.

Match details:

India vs West Indies (T20I series, 1st T20I) 

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Date: February 16th, 2022 

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Head-to-head:

Matches: 17

India: 10

West Indies: 6

Stats:

The top three run-scorers in the shortest format of this rivalry are from India as the list is led by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Sharma has managed to pile up 519 runs while Kohli has amassed 501. KL Rahul has played 9 matches from which he has piled up 353 runs.

Rohit Sharma managed to ace the list of sixes as he surpassed the likes of Kieron Pollard and Evin Lewis to claim the mantle with 29 sixes from 15 games.

Like our batting glitterati, four Indians lead the list of highest wicket-takers as Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja top the list followed by Dwayne Bravo.

Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant lead the charts for the highest number of dismissals in a series with 3 removals to their name.

Squads:

India:

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain) (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav.

West Indies:

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.