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West Indies are gearing up to lock horns with formidable India in the five-match T20I series after suffering a crushing defeat in the three-match ODI series.
Meanwhile, right ahead of the T20I series opener which is slated to start from Friday (July 29), West Indies announced their the 16-member squad which saw the return of star player's Shimron Hetmyer in the fray. This left-handed batsman was not part of the team in the ODI series but this player has got a place in the T20 team. Hetmyer, known for his fast batting, is now said to be completely fit.
The same squad of 16 players will then travel to Jamaica for the three-match T20I Series against New Zealand at Sabina Park that starts from August 10 to August 14.
Meanwhile, Shimron's wife Nirvani Hetmyer was seen celebrating her husband's inclusion in the T20I squad by smoking Hookah.
Here's the video...
The mere thought of a first eleven comprising Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik as the five specialists batters in the top six can have an intimidating as well as debilitating effect on the opposition.
And that too at a time when a player of Virat Kohli's stature has been failing miserably in shortest format and doubts are being cast about his place in the playing XI.
The preceding England series has shown that India's white ball players have that imposing alpha-male like presence out there in the middle even if their best player Kohli is on the wane.
Meanwhile, boasting a few T20 specialists and hard-hitters, the hosts are likely to go with the same squad featuring such as Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, and Rovman Powell that beat Bangladesh 2-0 in the three-match series back home earlier this month.
The likes of Myers and skipper Pooran are also in good form with the bat, and that could give West Indies the right amount of confidence to give India a tough fight.
West Indies Squad For India, New Zealand T20Is:
Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Rovman Powell (Vice Captain), Shamarh Brooks, Dominic Drakes, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.
India's squad for West Indies' T20I series: Rohit Sharma (C), I Kishan, KL Rahul*, Suryakumar Yadav, D Hooda, S Iyer, D Karthik, R Pant, H Pandya, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, R Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav*, B Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
