India hope to stay afloat against rampant West Indies with the series on the line

As we approach the third T20I of the ongoing India tour of West Indies, a lot would be on the line for the Men in Blue as they slumped down to a second straight defeat, with the visitors at risk of losing the series. Despite being in comfortable positions in both the games, India failed to capitalize and allowed West Indies to run away with the bragging rights.

In all likelihood, the Men in Blue may opt for a crucial change that may see Yashasvi Jaiswal make his T20I debut after the Indian batting unit faltered in both the matches. The biggest question will be on Shubman Gill’s position in the XI, with the right-hander having failed in both the T20Is so far. 

Another crucial juncture of the game that would need some careful looking into is the middle-order, which has been bookended efficiently by Tilak Varma in both the matches but the Islanders have managed to chip away at the other end, making life a living hell for the Indian batters.

With the same pitch set to be used, India would probably make a solitary change in their echelons which would introduce an additional batting option after a faltering display in the first two games. It is highly unlikely that India will look to make a change in their bowling unit, unless Kuldeep Yadav is fit to return to the XI. 

West Indies would be desperate to clinch the series that would snuff out a six-year long wait for a T20I series triumph against India, as their last victory came way back in 2017. They would probably be coming in with an unchanged side or may opt for Shai Hope in place of a misfiring Johnson Charles to bolster their echelons.

With all said and done, expect to witness a cracker of an encounter as the two teams with entirely different mindsets and objectives enter the fray. As challenging it may sound, it is going to be an absolute cracker of a contest between two teams famished for a victory.

Venue Watch:

The Providence Stadium in Guyana has hosted 28 T20Is so far out of which 13 matches have been won batting first while 11 of the remaining fixtures have been won while chasing. It isn’t exactly a batting friendly surface as the average first innings score in the venue in the shortest format of the game is 122 while there is a steep slump in the second innings that witness the numbers dropping to a mortifying 93.

Head to head:

Matches played: 27

West Indies: 9

India: 17

Match Details:

Match: West Indies vs India, 3rd T20I

Venue: Providence Stadium, Guyana

Date: 8th 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.