West Indies vs India | India's Predicted XI for the first T20I at Fort Lauderhill
Within a space of one year, India and West Indies are slated to take on each other for the second time in T20Is and the three-match series in Florida will start on August 3. Here’s the predicted XI of Team India for the 1st T20I and it is expected to see a new-look side for the game.
Openers
Rohit Sharma: After a glorious run in the World Cup, India’s vice-captain Rohit Sharma will have a hand at the limited-overs format again. India’s ‘Hitman’ is also the highest run-getter in the T20I format. Any LOI team with Rohit Sharma in it is bound to have a solid opening.
Shikhar Dhawan: Dhawan was unfortunate enough to miss out on participating for a major part of the World Cup due to his injury despite being in tremendous form. The left-handed opener was also the highest run-getter in 2018 in T20Is. Since Sharma and Dhawan share an excellent record batting together, India should face no opening partnership woes at all in the upcoming games.
Middle Order
Virat Kohli: The Indian captain is a huge ambassador of contemporary Cricket and has been abundantly successful in all three formats. He didn’t have a great World Cup but he’s almost never out of form. He might bat at 3 or 4 according to the situation.
KL Rahul: Despite having a shaky record in ODIs in the recent past, KL Rahul’s T20I form has never faced a low. He’s been a successful opener in the shortest format and his record as No.4 is as good as anyone in the team. Since Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are the preferred openers in the squad, KL Rahul will bat at 4.
Shreyas Iyer: The 24-year-old Delhi Capitals skipper hasn’t made an international appearance for India in two years but his T20 record- 1978 runs in 78 matches at a strike rate of 134 - has paved his way into the team. He’ll be the flagbearer of India’s young brigade against the Windies and will look to cement his spot in the side for good.
Rishabh Pant: He hasn’t had an illustrious career in T20Is so far, but Pant’s IPL record speaks for his expertise in the twenty over format. India has already majorly invested in the left-handed batsman to don the keeping gloves once MS Dhoni retires and he would be the youngster’s chance to consolidate his position in the shortest format of the game.
Bowlers
Krunal Pandya: With two T20 World Cups coming in the next couple of years, Krunal Pandya cemented his place in the T20 squad at the perfect time. He has been a regular in the team since November 2018 and is a decent all-rounder who would be raring to go.
Rahul Chahar: The 19-year-old leg spinner Rahul Chahar has made his way to a national call-up after impressive performances in the IPL and India A level. His elder brother Deepak Chahar is also a part of the squad and will form a major part of the bowling.
Deepak Chahar: The two brothers will finally have a chance to represent the Indian team together, especially in the absence Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The 26-year-old right-arm medium bowler has abundant IPL experience and has been successful in his latest stint with the CSK picking up 22 wickets in 17 matches.
Khaleel Ahmed: Since this T20 series is all about the youngsters and building a match-winning team for the next year’s T20 World Cup, Khaleel Ahmed will most likely open the bowling for India. He won’t be a new face, as already had some international experience a few months before the World Cup.
Navdeep Saini: The 26-year-old left-arm medium pacer Navdeep Saini will finally make his well deserved international debut after having consistently impressed with his pace for over the last six years. During the 2019 IPL, his clocked up his speed to 150kmph and he’ll most likely open with Ahmed.
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