India vs West Indies 2019: 1st T20I - India's Predicted Playing XI

Team India have enjoyed a good run across formats since their exit from the ICC World Cup 2019 in England. After convincing wins over South Africa and Bangladesh at home conditions, the Men in Blues will lock horns with West Indies in a three-match T20I series. The opening encounter of the series begins on December 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

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Virat Kohli & Co have looked like a compact side with batting and bowling combining well to bring the desired result. The inclusion of Shreyas Iyer in the middle order alongside the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top have strengthened their batting. Meanwhile, this series will see the veteran fast bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar return to action in the shortest formats.

The management will face a tough time while picking the playing XI for the opening tie with everyone chipping in with useful contributions whenever needed for the team. India, as a team, will look for nothing less than a win as they continue to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup.

Here is the predicted playing XI of Team India for the first of the three-match T20I series starting from December 6 (Friday) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad:

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Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been in great form in recent times with the bat across formats. While there were doubts that the swashbuckling opener might take a break from this series, but the selectors have picked him for the T20Is. Rohit will hope to continue his regular job when India resume their rivalries with West Indies.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul is likely to open alongside Rohit Sharma in the absence of injured Shikhar Dhawan. The Karnataka cricketer has been in great form in the domestic T20s helping his side clinch the title. Rahul, who has been in the firing line, needs to replicate his performance for India to retain his place in the team.

Virat Kohli (c)

Virat Kohli looked in an exciting form with the bat in the Test series after taking a break from the Bangladesh T20Is. Team India skipper will hope to dictate terms from the front as the host will be desperate to continue their winning run in the upcoming three-match series against West Indies.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has cemented his berth in the middle ever since he made it to the playing XI after India’s ouster from the World Cup. The Mumbai batsman has looked settled and knows when to accelerate. Iyer looked in swashbuckling form in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai and will hope to keep up the excellent job for the Men in Blues.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant’s form with the bat has been the talk of the town in recent times for all reasons. The young wicket-keeper batsman has failed to live upto the expectations since being the first choice wicket-keeper batsman after the World Cup. Pant, who has been in the firing line, needs to step up his game to retain his place with Sanju Samson waiting in the wings.

Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube made it into the playing XI in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who is still nursing his injury. The young India all-rounder impressed with the ball during the Bangladesh series and will hope to play a part in the forthcoming series against West Indies.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is the most utility cricketer India have in their ranks. Jadeja is arguably the best fielder in the worlds and is very economical when it comes to bowling. Besides, he has also improved his batting which gives Virat Kohli & Co the luxury of playing an extra bowler.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has been a match-winner for India in the last few years. But the chips were down for Chahal in the previous few years before he finally found his rhythm during the series against Bangladesh. The leg-spinner will hope to continue his job and retain his place as India have quality spinners in the bench to come in.

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami has been a revelation for India in the last two years. He has been spectacular with the ball picking valuable wickets, especially in Tests. With the T20 World Cup coming up, Shami will hope to pull up the socks and aim a place in the squad which will fly to Australia for the premier competition in 2020.

Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar has been the showstopper since he bagged a hat-trick during the third T20I against Bangladesh. He also enjoyed a rich vein of form in the domestic T20 tournament for Rajasthan and will hope to keep up good form as India look to finalise their squad with less than a year left for the ICC T20 World Cup.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made a return from long-time injury and will hope to hit the strides right from the word go. Previously, he had been India’s leading bowler in the shortest format, and the veteran cricketer will hope to reclaim the spot back, and his comeback journey begins in the next series.