West Indies vs India T20I Series Preview

Team India’s ODI World Cup preparations will be put on pause for ten days as the Men in Blue gear up for a five-match T20I series against the West Indies. Although India’s primary focus in 2023 will be on the 50-over format, this series does hold importance for the visitors.

The 2024 T20 World Cup will take place in the Caribbean and the United States, and the Men in Blue will be looking to test out some of their fresh blood against the West Indies, giving opportunities to young IPL stars to stake their claim for a spot in the permanent set-up. Senior statesmen such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Shami have been rested for this series, paving the way for the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Mukesh Kumar to make their T20I debuts and audition for roles in the first-team.

The West Indies, meanwhile, have failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup in the subcontinent and can use this series as a platform for their preparations for the home T20 World Cup in 12 months. Experienced internationals such as Nicholas Pooran, Odean Smith, Jason Holder, and Akeal Hosein return to the West Indies side for this series, giving Darren Sammy’s side a better chance at challenging the Men in Blue throughout the five matches.

Players to watch out for: 

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal enjoyed a breakout IPL campaign in 2023 for the Rajasthan Royals, scoring 625 runs at a strike rate of 163, and the southpaw should be in line to make his T20I debut for India in this series. Jaiswal has already taken to international cricket like a duck to water, scoring a century on Test debut earlier on this tour, and is likely to feature alongside Shubman Gill or Ishan Kishan at the top of the order for the visitors.

Nicholas Pooran

After missing the ODIs due to Major League Cricket commitments, Nicholas Pooran returns to the West Indies side for the five-match T20I series against India. The southpaw led MI New York to the inaugural MLC title with a sensational 137 of 55 balls in the final last Sunday and will be looking to translate that form into national colours against India.

Team News

The West Indies are likely to stick with the majority of the XI that featured in their 2-1 T20I series victory over South Africa in March, with Pooran and Hetmyer bolstering the middle order alongside skipper Rovman Powell.

The Indian side, meanwhile, will feature a wide range of fresh faces. Shubman Gill is likely to open alongside Yashavi Jaiswal, with Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma occupying the middle-order slots. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are the favourites to be the two spinners in the XI, while Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack along with Umran Malik and Mukesh Kumar.

Probable XI’s

West Indies: Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph

India: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma/Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar