India vs West Indies 2023: 1st T20 Final Playing 11 for Both Teams

Hardik Pandya and Nicholas Pooran to lead as we look at the confirmed playing 11 for India vs West Indies 1st T20 2023.

The first two legs of India’s Tour of West Indies have been successfully completed with India winning both the series so far. While India won the Test series 1-0, they won the ODI series 2-1. The tour finale now moves to the 5-match T20I series, which will see the young lads from India taking on the mighty West Indies.

After playing 2 Tests and 3 ODIs, Team India and West Indies will face each other in the T20I series with 5 T20Is in place. While 3 T20Is shall be played in West Indies, the other two shall be played in the US. Meanwhile, as per the leading website, Betway Satta, India are favourites to win the T20 series with odds at 1.25.  

Overall, India have played West Indies 25 times in T20Is. The winning record seems to be in their favour with 17 wins and 7 losses. In terms of bilateral series wins, India have won six times, while West Indies have won twice. However, in the last 5 T20I series, India have ended on the winning side on all 5 times. 

Meanwhile, Team India’s T20I squad has a completely different outlook as compared to the ODI and Test squad. Most of the senior players aren’t a part of the T20I squad, which means, we still see a completely new playing 11. So, analyzing the players in the squad, let’s look at the confirmed best playing 11 for India vs West Indies 1st T20 2023. 

Match Details:

Tournament: India Tour of West Indies 2023

Type: 1st T20I

Where: Trinidad, West Indies

When: August 03, 8 pm IST

WI vs India 2023 – Official T20 Squad List for Team India:

Batters: Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma & Yashasvi Jaiswal

WKs: Ishan Kishan & Sanju Samson

All-rounders: Axar Patel & Hardik Pandya

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Umran Malik & Yuzvendra Chahal

Team India’s Best Predicted Playing 11

Openers: Shubman Gill & Ishan Kishan (wk)

The toughest question that Team India would be facing for the T20 series is whom will they open with. The team currently has three primary openers in the form of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. With Shubman Gill certain to play, only one of Kishan and Yashasvi will make it to the playing 11.

Ideally, Yashasvi Jaiswal should make his debut in the T20 series. But playing Ishan Kishan in the playing 11 seems more strategic. Kishan is likely to play as the backup keeper and opener in the ODI squad, so playing him as an opener makes more sense ahead of the Asia Cup 2023. So, as unfortunate as it may sound, Yashasvi will have to wait for his chance. 

Middle-order: Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav & Tilak Varma

The middle-order for Team India seems sorted with Sanju Samson at 3 and Suryakumar Yadav at 4. With Team India not having a specialist experienced player to play at number 5, we should see Tilak Varma making his debut at the number 5 position. It’s a great opportunity for Tilak, who has been playing a similar role for Mumbai Indians. 

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya & Axar Patel

Coming to all-rounders, there again doesn’t seem to be any decision to make. Captain Hardik Pandya shall play the role of the Pace all-rounder. Whereas Axar Patel shall play the role of the spin all-rounder in the absence of primary all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. 

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik & Yuzvendra Chahal

Coming to the bowling line-up, the main question that Team India will have to ask is whether to play 3 spinners and 3 pacers combination or to play 4 pacers and 2 spinners combination. Ideally, the decision shall depend on the pitch that Team India will be playing.

However, Trinidad is a pitch that is generally sporty, and can help both pacers and spinners. But with Asia Cup 2023 in mind, India will most likely play Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra together with Axar Patel as the third spinner. Whereas Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik shall play as the leading pacers with Hardik as the third option. 

West Indies vs India 2023 – 1st T20 Best Predicted Playing 11 for Team India:

Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik & Yuzvendra Chahal.

WI vs India 2023: Official T20 Series Squad List for West Indies

Batters: Brandon King, Rovman Powell (c) & Shimron Hetmyer

Wks: Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran & Shai Hope

All-rounders: Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Odean Smith, Romario Shephard & Roston Chase

Bowlers: Akeal Hosein, Azarri Joseph, Obed McCoy & Oshane Thomas

West Indies’ Best Predicted Playing 11

The West Indies playing 11 looks pretty straightforward; at least from the batting-order perspective. We should see Brandon King and Kyle Mayers opening the batting for them with Johnson Charles at number 3. Nicholas Pooran should follow them at 4 with Shimron Hetmyer at 5 and Rovman Powell at 6. The bowling line-up should comprise of Romario Shephard, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, and Obed McCoy.

West Indies vs India 2023 – 1st T20 Best Predicted Playing 11 for West Indies:

Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (c), Romario Shephard, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph & Obed McCoy

Top Fantasy Players 11 for West Indies vs India 1st T20 2023

Batters: Shubman Gill, Johnson Charles & Suryakumar Yadav

Wks: Nicholas Pooran & Ishan Kishan

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Kyle Mayers & Jason Holder

Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh & Alzarri Joseph

CVC Choice: Shubman Gill & Yuzvendra Chahal

Please check our Telegram channel for fresh Fantasy 11 updates based on Toss, ground conditions, etc. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for West Indies vs India 1st T20 2023? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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