India vs WI 2019: First T20 Preview and Expected Playing 11

India vs WI: Virat Kohli returns to the Indian Team as we look at the first T20 International preview and the expected playing 11.

MATCH DETAILS: 

Occasion	First T20I, India vs West Indies
Location	Hyderabad
Date & Time	Friday, December 6, 7 pm

INDIA VS WI FIRST T20 INTERNATIONAL PREVIEW 

Hardly a few months have gone by when India last played West Indies in a T20I series. The result was certainly encouraging for India as they mauled West Indies 3-0 at their den. However, in the absence of Virat Kohli for the Bangladesh series, the visitors almost gave a run for the money to India before Deepak Chahar pulled-off a series win with a breathtaking spell of 6-7.

India now face a slightly changed West Indies for the ODI and the T20I series. West Indies have made a few tactical changes to their squad since the India series. They dropped their captain, Carlos Brathwaite, ace spinner, Sunil Narine, and Oshane Thomas. On top of it, West Indies made Kieron Pollard as their new T20I Captain.

Both the teams would be playing keeping the 2020 World T20 in mind. While Team India have plenty of options to ponder upon, the same is the case for West Indies. The series would see the Teams playing 3 T20Is with first being played in Hyderabad.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Hyderabad pitch has traditionally been the one favoring bowlers. However, the sunny conditions with a cold temperature could see a high scoring match between the two dynamic teams.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR: 

KL Rahul:

KL Rahul would welcome the opportunity to open with both arms wide open in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan’s lack of impact in the shortest format of the game would give a wonderful opportunity to KL Rahul, who would want to stamp his authority as the second-choice opener.

Rishabh Pant:

I have said this for the last two series, and don’t mind saying it again that Rishabh Pant would be under scanner for the T20I series against West Indies. His performance since the 2019 World Cup has been inversely proportional to the talent he possesses. With 2020 World T20 insight, I just hope he gets back to form in this series. 

Kieron Pollard:

The Captain of the side, Kieron Pollard would be itching to prove himself as both; the player as well as the Captain. Having been one of the long-timer IPL players, expectations would be high from him as he takes up the challenge against India. 

TEAM CHANGES:

Sanju Samson was named as the replacement for the injured, Shikhar Dhawan. However, It is unlikely that Sanju Samson would be included in the playing 11 ahead of Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey; both being in some stellar form.

Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the pace arena after a long gap. Considering Deepak Chahar’s form, It is unlikely that both would get a game together.

Kuldeep Yadav too returned to the T20 team. While the combo of KulCha ( Kuldeep & Chahal) looks prominent, it seems unlikely for Kuldeep to get a game ahead of Jadeja or Sundar. 

For West Indies, Nicholas Pooran’s absence would see Keemo Paul getting a game as an additional all-rounder. 

India vs WI First T20 International Expected Playing 11:

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli(C), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal. 

West Indies: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (C), Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr, and Sheldon Cottrell

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