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Defending champions of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, West Indies, are settling to the new leadership of Kieron Pollard, and the three-match series in India will present them with a tough challenge, starting 6 December in Hyderabad.
Overview
India v West Indies, 1st T20I
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Thursday, 6 December; 07:00pm local, 01:30pm GMT
West Indies will have to play their best quality of cricket if they are to get off to a winning start against India, an opponent against whom they have lost each of their last six T20Is, including three matches hosted by them only four months ago.
Coming off a 2-1 loss to Afghanistan recently, the visitors won't be doing too well in the confidence department either. During that series, the Windies batsmen seemed to struggle against seamers and India have a wealth of fast bowling talent, both experienced and otherwise, who will look to probe this apparent weakness.
While Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are proven match-winners, Deepak Chahar and Shivam Dube have done remarkably well in their limited opportunities so far. And with severe competition for fast bowling spots in the Indian set up, less than a year out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia, expect them to be firing on all cylinders. If West Indies do deal with the quicks well, they will have to contend with the quality spin attack comprising of Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
The onus will be on the experienced West Indies batsmen to lead the way in countering a fine Indian attack. To that end, Pollard himself will be a crucial figure and as will Evin Lewis, both of whom have a good deal of IPL experience having routinely faced bowling of such calibre.
The visitors have a strong T20 bowling attack. Kesrick Williams is the wily seamer with nifty variations, while Keemo Paul and Sheldon Cottrell can make things happen with pace and bounce. The leg-spin of Hayden Walsh adds another dimension to the attack. It will be a good challenge for them they set out to try and contain the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.
Faced with the task of trying to avoid a clean sweep, West Indies were off to a disastrous start at Providence with Deepak Chahar producing a stunning opening spell to reduce them to 14/3. Kieron Pollard made a fine 45-ball 58 to lead West Indies' revival to 146/6. In reply, India lost Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul cheaply, but half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant saw India home with seven wickets and five balls to spare.
What they said
Shivam Dube, India all-rounder: "They have got a good T20 side but we have prepared very nicely. I think India is the best team in world cricket and we will win the series."
Conditions
The pitch in Hyderabad tends to be on the slower side, with reasonable amount of purchase for spinners. Fast bowlers who are equipped with a slower ball can do well too. Weather is expected to be cool and clear.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1517899
India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson
West Indies Squad: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, Sheldon Cottrell, Nicholas Pooran, Kesrick Williams, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford
Overview
India v West Indies, 1st T20I
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Thursday, 6 December; 07:00pm local, 01:30pm GMT
West Indies will have to play their best quality of cricket if they are to get off to a winning start against India, an opponent against whom they have lost each of their last six T20Is, including three matches hosted by them only four months ago.
Coming off a 2-1 loss to Afghanistan recently, the visitors won't be doing too well in the confidence department either. During that series, the Windies batsmen seemed to struggle against seamers and India have a wealth of fast bowling talent, both experienced and otherwise, who will look to probe this apparent weakness.
While Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are proven match-winners, Deepak Chahar and Shivam Dube have done remarkably well in their limited opportunities so far. And with severe competition for fast bowling spots in the Indian set up, less than a year out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia, expect them to be firing on all cylinders. If West Indies do deal with the quicks well, they will have to contend with the quality spin attack comprising of Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
The onus will be on the experienced West Indies batsmen to lead the way in countering a fine Indian attack. To that end, Pollard himself will be a crucial figure and as will Evin Lewis, both of whom have a good deal of IPL experience having routinely faced bowling of such calibre.
The visitors have a strong T20 bowling attack. Kesrick Williams is the wily seamer with nifty variations, while Keemo Paul and Sheldon Cottrell can make things happen with pace and bounce. The leg-spin of Hayden Walsh adds another dimension to the attack. It will be a good challenge for them they set out to try and contain the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.
Faced with the task of trying to avoid a clean sweep, West Indies were off to a disastrous start at Providence with Deepak Chahar producing a stunning opening spell to reduce them to 14/3. Kieron Pollard made a fine 45-ball 58 to lead West Indies' revival to 146/6. In reply, India lost Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul cheaply, but half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant saw India home with seven wickets and five balls to spare.
What they said
Shivam Dube, India all-rounder: "They have got a good T20 side but we have prepared very nicely. I think India is the best team in world cricket and we will win the series."
Conditions
The pitch in Hyderabad tends to be on the slower side, with reasonable amount of purchase for spinners. Fast bowlers who are equipped with a slower ball can do well too. Weather is expected to be cool and clear.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1517899
India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson
West Indies Squad: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, Sheldon Cottrell, Nicholas Pooran, Kesrick Williams, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford
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