IND vs WI Prediction, India vs West Indies 2022- Who Will Win the Match Between India and West Indies, India vs West Indies 2022, 1st T20I

Published - 16 Feb 2022, 10:35 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:04 AM

Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, India, West Indies, India v West Indies

Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard. (Photo: BCCI)

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The first T20 international of the upcoming three-match series between India and the West Indies is scheduled to be played on Wednesday at Eden Gardens Stadium. India registered a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series and would be keen to attain a similar result in the T20 series as well.

India are currently brimming with confidence. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they have exhibited outstanding performances both in T20Is and ODIs. They registered a 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand in the last T20 series and would be keen on claiming a similar result against West Indies.

Ishan Kishan-Rishabh Pant — Photo Credit: (Twitter)

Vice-captain, KL Rahul is unavailable for the series due to a hamstring injury and Ruturaj Gaikwad has replaced him in the squad. However, with Ishan Kishan already in the squad, you don’t expect Ruturaj to feature in the playing XI. In the middle-order, they have got the likes of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant. However, perhaps, only three out of them are going to make the playing XI.

Ravindra Jadeja is not there in the squad due to injury and Washington Sundar would look to fill his shoes in the playing XI. Yuzvendra Chahal will be leading the spin bowling attack as Ashwin too is injured and unavailable.

In the pace-bowling department, both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been rested and India would look to test young pacers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most experienced member of the attack. He will be supported by the likes of M Siraj, Harshal Patel, and Avesh Khan.

West Indies, on the other hand, are yet to win a game on their ongoing tour of India. Though, they have done well in T20 internationals in the recent past. They won their last T20 series against England by a 3-2 margin. West Indies have a great side on paper. They got a lot of power-hitters in their side, which makes them a daunting side in the T20s. It’s the depth in the batting unit that looks the most threatening.

At the top, they have got the likes of Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Darren Bravo, and Roston Chase. Then comes the power-hitters, namely Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Odean Smith, and Romario Shepherd among others. It looks like a formidable batting unit and certainly has got the potential to notch huge totals on the board.

Kieron Pollard and Jason Holder — Image Source: Twitter

However, how well they execute their plans will be there to see. In the bowling unit, Sheldon Cottrell is likely to be seen opening the attack alongside Jason Holder. Odean Smith is likely to be third pace bowling option. As for the spin, the team will be banking on the services of Akeal Hosein and Fabien Allen.