India will face the West Indies in the fifth and deciding T20I of their five-match series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17. With the series level at 2-2 after four high-scoring matches, both teams will look to win the final game and claim the trophy.
The West Indies will aim to complete a memorable series victory in India. Shai Hope’s side levelled the series by defending its total in Hyderabad after chasing down 250 runs in Ranchi. The visitors will now target their first series win in any format on Indian soil since 2002.
India, meanwhile, must address their bowling concerns after conceding big totals throughout the series. Shreyas Iyer’s side has played without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. The hosts will need to improve their execution, especially in the middle and death overs, to secure a series win at home.
IND vs WI Match Preview and Recent Form
India have won three of their last five completed T20Is. Sanju Samson boosted the team with an aggressive half-century in Hyderabad, taking on off-spinner Roston Chase, who had troubled India’s left-handed batters Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
India’s bowling attack must find a way to contain the West Indies’ powerful batting lineup. Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav have provided pace and early wickets, but India have struggled to control the scoring rate in the middle and death overs.
The four matches have produced 98 sixes, putting the series within reach of the bilateral record of 120. India will rely on Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma to maintain their aggressive approach and match the West Indies’ power-hitting.
The West Indies have also won three of their last five T20Is. Shai Hope has been a key performer on this tour, scoring 278 runs in ODIs and 261 in T20Is. His form could play a major role in deciding the outcome of the final match.
The visitors also have considerable depth in their middle order, with Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd all capable of scoring quickly. Shamar Joseph has conceded runs at an economy rate of 14.17, but his pace makes him a threat with the ball.
Gudakesh Motie and Keemo Paul will also play important roles in the West Indies’ bowling attack. The visitors must bowl accurate lines and lengths, while India will look to make the most of their home advantage.
IND vs WI Live Streaming, Live Telecast: Where to Watch 5th T20I?
Cricket fans in India can watch the live television broadcast of the series-deciding fifth T20I between India and the West Indies on the Star Sports Network. Fans who prefer to watch the match online can access live streaming through the JioHotstar app and website. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST.
IND vs WI Pitch Report: How Will M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Play?
The pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is known for favouring batters. It offers consistent bounce and good carry. The short boundaries and fast outfield also help them score quickly.
Fast bowlers may find some swing with the new ball, especially under overcast conditions. However, they will need to bowl accurately to restrict the scoring. Spinners could also face a challenge on this surface and may need to vary their pace, flight and line to contain the batters.
Teams often prefer to chase at this venue. Teams batting first have won seven matches, while teams bowling first have won nine. With dew and the possibility of rain in the forecast, the captain winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium T20 Stats
Total Matches: 18
Won Batting First: 7
Won Bowling First: 9
Average 1st Innings Score: 141
Average 2nd Innings Score: 136
Highest Team Total: 212/4 (India vs Afghanistan)
Lowest Team Total: 99 (South Africa Women vs New Zealand Women)
Highest Score Chased: 194/3 (Australia vs India)
Lowest Score Defended: 114/7 (Sri Lanka Women vs South Africa Women)
Highest Individual Score: 121* (Rohit Sharma vs Afghanistan, 2024)
Best Bowling Figures: 6/25 (Yuzvendra Chahal vs England, 2017)
IND vs WI Weather Forecast & Rain Threat at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
At the scheduled 7:00 PM IST start, temperatures are expected to be around 24°C, with thunderstorms and a 64% chance of rain. Humidity is forecast to be around 80%. Rain could disrupt the series decider and affect both teams’ plans.
Any reduction in overs could bring the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method into play. Both captains will need to consider the weather when making tactical decisions, particularly if rain interrupts the game after the start.
IND vs WI Team News & Squad Updates
India have brought in Bhuvneshwar Kumar in place of Arshdeep Singh, who is out of the match. Kuldeep Yadav remains outside the expected playing group, with team selection likely to depend on the conditions at Bengaluru’s batting-friendly venue.
IND vs WI Predicted Playing 11 Today
India Predicted Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
West Indies Predicted Playing XI:
Shai Hope (c & wk), Jewel Andrew, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Shamar Springer, Keemo Paul, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.
IND vs WI Key Player Battles to Watch
Shai Hope vs Axar Patel:
Shai Hope has had the upper hand against Axar Patel in T20Is, scoring 74 runs off 41 balls without getting dismissed. He has struck at 180.5 against the Indian left-arm spinner, hitting five boundaries and six sixes.
Naman Dhir vs Gudakesh Motie:
Gudakesh Motie has enjoyed success against Naman Dhir in their recent encounters. The West Indies spinner has dismissed Dhir twice in five deliveries, conceding just nine runs.
Sanju Samson vs Keemo Paul:
Keemo Paul dismissed Sanju Samson in their most recent meeting, giving the West Indies an early breakthrough. Samson will aim to respond with an aggressive start in the powerplay.
IND vs WI Key Players to Watch
India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
West Indies: Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd
Also read: Yuzvendra Chahal reveals drunk Australian player nearly killed him
