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Move over ODI cricket, the brand new dying format of the sport. Welcome, T20Is, the koolest child on the block, extra so in a T20 World Cup yr.
With the worldwide event in Australia lower than three months away, this 5-match T20I sequence presents a giant alternative for West Indies and India to agency up their plans.
After failing to qualify for the knockouts of the 2021 version, India modified their batting template. This yr, they’ve scored at a price of 9.45 per over. If you permit apart 2013, after they performed only one T20I, that is their finest scoring price in any calendar yr. In truth, no different workforce has scored at a sooner price than India this yr.
In current years, T20I cricket has been West Indies’ strongest go well with. But, not for the primary time, they are going to be with out a lot of their stars who lit up numerous T20 leagues around the globe. Kieron Pollard has retired, whereas Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will not be a part of the squad.
The workforce, although, will carry the boldness from their 2-0 win in opposition to Bangladesh in the format, in addition to from a a lot-improved efficiency in the ODI sequence in opposition to India. Nicholas Pooran will as soon as once more be the important thing to West Indies’ fortunes. He could have the assist of Shimron Hetmyer, who’s again in the squad after proving his health. The query is, can others – particularly the bowlers – raise their sport as effectively?
Form information
West Indies WWLLL (final 5 accomplished T20Is, most up-to-date first)
India LWWWW
In the highlight
Team news
Hetmyer is again in the West Indies T20I squad after clearing a health check. Evin Lewis continues to overlook out, so West Indies are more likely to stick with the opening mixture of Kyle Mayers and Brandon King.
West Indies (possible): 1 Kyle Mayers, 2 Brandon King, 3 Nicholas Pooran (capt & wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Rovman Powell, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Odean Smith/Dominic Drakes/Romario Shepherd, 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Obed McCoy, 11 Hayden Walsh Jr
India appear to have discovered all of the items of the jigsaw puzzle. It’s now about placing them in their proper locations. With KL Rahul not accessible, will they proceed to open with Pant? Has Deepak Hooda, together with his all-spherical sport with the bat and useful offspin, pipped Shreyas Iyer for a slot in the center order? Who will lead the spin assault in the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal? It appears we should watch for the match day to seek out the solutions.
India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Rishabh Pant (wk), 3 Deepak Hooda/Shreyas Iyer, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Dinesh Karthik, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 R Ashwin/Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Avesh Khan/Arshdeep Singh
Pitch and situations
This would be the first worldwide match to be performed on the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The venue has hosted 31 CPL video games, the final of which was in 2020. The scoring price in these video games was 7.40. The climate, although, may play a spoilsport as there may be an 80% likelihood of rain on Friday morning.
Stats and trivia
- Both Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja are two strikes away from 50 T20I wickets. Only Yuzvendra Chahal (79), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (70), Jasprit Bumrah (69) and R Ashwin (61) have taken 50 or extra wickets for India in T20Is.
- On Wednesday, Martin Guptill (3399) overtook Rohit (3379) because the main run-scorer in T20Is. Both gamers will likely be in motion on Friday.
- Eleven bowlers have bowled ten or extra powerplay overs in T20Is this yr. Among these, Akeal Hosein’s economic system price of 9.20 is the worst in that part.
Quotes
“We have been playing good T20 cricket. We had good games with India in India. We know the quality that they have. Let’s wait and see how we come up on Friday.”
West Indies coach Phil Simmons seems to be forward to the T20I sequence
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo