Find out all you need to know about the clash between the sides in Hyderabad
India host West Indies in the first of three T20Is as both teams continue their preparations ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. At the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will then meet in a trio of 50-over clashes in the build-up to Christmas.
The two countries met in the Caribbean at the end of summer, with India winning five out of six white-ball matches – the sixth was washed out.
FIRST T20I: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad (Friday, December 6, 7pm local time, 1.30pm GMT)
Naturally, India will go into the first game of the series as strong favourites despite West Indies’ status as T20 world champions.
Quite simply, India rarely lose these days, especially on home soil. Virat Kohli has returned to the fold, having rested during the white-ball leg of Bangladesh’s short tour in November.
There is still no place for MS Dhoni – the latest signal that the great wicketkeeper’s time in the international arena may finally be up, while both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are still missing with back problems. Shikhar Dhawan is out with a knee injury.
Otherwise, however, the home side are close to full strength, Sanju Samson was the beneficiary of Dhawan’s misfortune, having initially been left out of the squad.
In the absence of Bumrah, the strength in depth of India’s pace attack has shone through. Deepak Chahar took figures of 6 for 7 against Bangladesh, giving him the best figures of all time in a men’s T20I. He will be looking to establish his position in the side as the T20 World Cup gets closer. The seamer, though, will face some competition in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is also back in the fray after recovering from a muscular issue.
India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Denesh Ramdin, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kesrick Williams
With Dafabet, India are favourites to win the first T20I, with odds available of 1/3 for the home side. West Indies, meanwhile, are at 23/10.
West Indies are looking to bounce back in India, having lost their recent three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Shai Hope and Alzarri Joseph have both been left out of their squad as Phil Simmons looks at a range of different options.
Chris Gayle is another notable absentee; he has opted to take a break from cricket for the remainder of 2019, having left his Mzansi Super League stint with Jozi Stars midway through their campaign. He told reporters that he had turned down a spot in West Indies’ ODI squad for the second half of their India tour as he considers his future.
“This will be another chance for them to play and develop,” Simmons said. “The next ICC T20 World Cup is in Australia and the one after that is here in India so there is a lot of preparation to be done, first for Australia.
“We have given the players here a chance in this series and we know we have players outside who may be coming in later on as well, so it's good to give those here another opportunity.”
Fabian Allen has returned to the squad after recovering from a knee injury; he is one of three spin options alongside Hayden Walsh Jr and Khary Pierre, both of whom have been selected on the back of strong showings in the Caribbean Premier League.
It is forecast to be a dry and warm evening in Hyderabad, with just a 10 per cent chance of rain.
Star Sports will broadcast the games in India.
This preview is brought to you in association with Dafabet India. For more on Dafabet and to place a bet, click here.
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