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

India will look to shift their focus to the upcoming series against West Indies after a premature end to their World Cup campaign. The Men in Blues will look to get off to a winning start when they play the team from the Caribbean Island in the first T20Is on August 3 (Saturday) at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida.

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The selectors have picked a relatively young bowling unit with two debutants – Navdeep Saini and Rahul Chahar. The onus will be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar to lead the pack from the front. The batting order is more or less settled with Shikhar Dhawan returning from injury to take up his job. Meanwhile, there will be a lot of responsibility on the shoulder of Rishabh Pant in the absence of MS Dhoni.

Virat Kohli-led team India will be keen to make a winning start to the T20Is considering the upcoming ICC World T20 in Australia next year.

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Here is the predicted playing XI of India for the first T20I against West Indies in Florida:

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ROHIT SHARMA

Rohit Sharma has been in spectacular in the World Cup finishing as the highest run-scorer. The India vice-captain will hope to keep up the excellent work against West Indies as India look to bounce back from the World Cup defeat.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN

Shikhar Dhawan was in spectacular form before bowing out of the World Cup owing to a finger injury. The southpaw will look to bounce back strong and partner Rohit Sharma to give a swashbuckling start at the top.

VIRAT KOHLI

Virat Kohli has been India’s brightest star in the last few years with the bat. The talismanic run-scorer will have to keep up his excellent work and lead the team from the front as India look to settle the combinations for the upcoming ICC World T20.

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KL RAHUL

Touted as one of the talented batsmen of this generation, KL Rahul has struggled for consistency. The Karnataka-born cricketer will have to be at his best to retain his place in the playing XI with Shreyas Iyer waiting on the sidelines.

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MANISH PANDEY

Manish Pandey has amassed tons of runs in domestic cricket but has lacked to replicate the consistency when it comes to international cricket. He is coming from a good series against West Indies A and will be keen to keep up the good work to cement his spot in the playing XI.

RISHABH PANT

Rishabh Pant will be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper batsman for the first time in the absence of MS Dhoni. The team management will want more maturity from him with the bat and will have to lead the lower-order finishing matches for his side.

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KRUNAL PANDYA

Krunal Pandya has been a consistent performer in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and also has shown his mettle for India in the limited opportunities he has got for his side. Pandya will have to share a lot of responsibilities and lead the spin unit in the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

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BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has had injury problems in recent times but has managed to come back strong every single time. He will have to lead the pace bowling unit in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Kumar has the experience required to be successful in these conditions and India will look forward to their star bowler to deliver.

RAHUL CHAHAR

Rahul Chahar has got the reward for his success in the IPL for Mumbai Indias. He did an outstanding job in their fourth title campaign earlier this year. The young leg-spinner will be keen to live up to the expectations and give Yuzvendra Chahal a tough time to retain his spot in the playing XI.

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KHALEEL AHMED

Khaleel Ahmed impressed during the Asia Cup last year in the UAE. Since then, he has been inconsistent and went for plenty during the series against Australia. The upcoming games will be a massive opportunity for the young left-arm pacer who has to be in his best form to be in the good books of the selectors.

NAVDEEP SAINI

Navdeep Saini has had an incredible time in this year. An excellent show in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore has helped him take rapid strides in his career. He has done well for India A and was also among the standbys for the World Cup. Saini will be desperate to make the most of the opportunity and cement his spot in the Indian team.

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