India vs West Indies T20I series, preview, key players, prediction: Big guns back for India, steep ask for West Indies

It may sound unbelievable, more so after they lost the T20I series to Afghanistan last month, but the West Indies are still the defending champions of the ICC T20 World Cup. That night at Eden Gardens seems far, far away.

Of course, West Indies did “remember the name” of Carlos Brathwaite for quite some time after that day. Brathwaite led West Indies in the shortest formats but found little success, and was subsequently dropped from the side when they appointed Kieron Pollard captain a couple of months ago.

West Indies had lost every single match – across all three formats – when India toured there immediately after the World Cup. Let alone the series margins, India had won every single match convincingly – something they are likely to improve on at home.

With a year to go for the T20 World Cup, India will want to get their nucleus in place, which is probably why Virat Kohli will be back to lead after missing the T20Is against Bangladesh. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, too, have returned to the side.

As for West Indies, both Fabian Allen and Denesh Ramdin have recovered from their respective injuries. Nicholas Pooran will miss the first T20I but will be back for the other two, thereby adding much-needed firepower to the tourists’ batting line-up.

Despite all that, India will take field as strong favourites here.

Key players

Deepak Chahar (India): Chahar had taken 6/7 in his last match and wickets with each of his last 3 deliveries in the match. However, with Bhuvneshwar and Shami back in the fray and Jasprit Bumrah to return at some point, Chahar would probably have to step up a bit.

Brandon King (West Indies): King had gained stature after his stint for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL. The selectors have backed him despite his failure against Afghanistan. This is his opportunity to prove them right and earn a permanent place in the side.

Prediction

India to win, possibly whitewash.