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The highly anticipated first T20 match between Rohit & Co. and West Indies is ready to kick off as India have won the toss and opted to bowl first. The 21-year-old Ravi Bishnoi has secured a place in the India's playing XI and will be seen making his International debut as Ishan Kishan is gearing up to open with captain Rohit Sharma.
“Looks like we are going to bowl first here. I don't want to comment on the pitch as it has played differently every time we have come here. (Bowling first) gives a score in mind and how to approach the second half. We have to prepare ourselves with one eye on Australia. We have to keep ticking the boxes and that's been the message to the guys. We have played really well as a team but those little moments in the game is what we have to try and seize. Gives us a perfect opportunity to play a quality side like West Indies. They are going to challenge us, so let's see what we can come up with. We are playing with five batters, one all rounder and two spinners, Ravi Bishnoi is making his debut. We have got three seamers and few of those guys can bat as well. Yes (Ishan is opening),” Rohit said.
“The toss is 50-50, we have to bat and we have to bat well. Body is good. Had a niggle in my left knee, worked with the physio in the gym and let's see what happens tonight. We try to stay in the present, what happened in the weekend is done and dusted. We had a conversation about it, happy for the guys who are selected but business on hand now is to represent the West Indies. This is where it counts in international cricket and lot of these guys are looking for opportunities. We were going with the same XI (as the 5th T20I against England) but we have one forced change; Jason Holder misses out, he got hit in practice yesterday while working on his skills and he hasn't recovered, Roston Chase gets an opportunity. We have to assess the conditions and see what the pitch has to offer,” West Indies' captain Kieron Pollard said.
Meanwhile, India's star opener KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel won't be part of the T20 squad due to injury.
With Rahul ruled of the series, Rishabh Pant has been named as the stand-in vice-captain for the three T20Is. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli as he looks to go past Martin Guptill in the all-time T20I run scoring charts. Virat is just 73 runs away from overtaking the New Zealand batter at the top of the pile.
Indian team is coming from a high as they whitewashed Caribbeans in the recently concluded three-match ODI series.
The Men in Blue hasn't played T20I since November while West Indies is coming with a five-match T20I series win vs England. The visitors have a slight edge to win this game.
Pitch report
The pitch is going to offer a lot of support to the batters as the ball comes nicely onto the bat. The spinners are also likely to receive ample help from the pitch.
IND v WI Head-to-Head in T20I:
Total – 17
India – 10
West Indies – 6
No Result - 1
India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal.
West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (Wicketkeeper), Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard (Captain), Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Odean Smith, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell.
