Clash of T20I titans awaits as India take on West Indies in Trinidad for the first T20I

With India clinching the ODI series emphatically, West Indies would be hopeful of showing their power and class in the T20Is, a format that perfectly suits their bill. More than international cricket, it is going to be a battle of the IPL and CPL stars locking horns in a war of intensity and passion.

India will be coming to this fixture without the likes of their senior stars that include Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. However, their absence does very little to douse the Indian spirits as they still possess the strength to topple a firepower like West Indies in the shortest format of the game.

Shubman Gill may find a new partner in Yashasvi Jaiswal who started his international career on a bright note with a phenomenal 171. India may also try and keep the opening partnership of Ishan Kishan and Gill intact just to test the young pair's consistency. 

Mukesh Kumar may make his T20I international debut after proving to be effective in both Tests and ODIs and Ravi Bishnoi would be hoping to get some game time as India eye a victorious start. For West Indies, this is going to be a side bolstered by the return of Nicholas Pooran, who very recently smashed 137 from 55 balls in the MLC final.

They also have other power-hitters in the form of Rovman Powell, Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer who have excelled previously in these very conditions. With so many big names in the mix, there's excitement in the air in anticipation of the upcoming battle between two phenomenal sides who would be hoping to kickstart the series with a win.

Venue Watch:

It would be the same venue where the final ODI was played and there was ample room for the batters to free their arms. It would be intriguing to see whether it behaves in a similar fashion but the team batting first would have their fair share of say considering the fact that there is no extra bounce and there is no movement either for the bowlers.

Head to head:

Matches played: 25

West Indies: 7

India: 17

Match Details:

Match: West Indies vs India

Venue: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Port of Spain

Date: 3rd August, 2023

Time: 8:00 PM IST

Squads:

West Indies:

Rovman Powell (c), Kyle Mayers (vc), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas. 

India:

Hardik Pandya (C), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh.