India's tour of the West Indies 2023 is now in its final stage after the ODI series can to an end on August 2 (Tuesday). After clinching the two-match Test series by a margin of 1-0, India pocketed the ODI series 2-1. India and West Indies are now scheduled to compete in a five-match T20I series, starting August 3 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian side as the big guns Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to not be a part of the country's T20I setup.
The series will offer the Men in Blue a chance to prepare for the next year's T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be staged in the Caribbean and the U.S.A. Several youngsters have been included in the T20I squad and the upcoming series will present a golden opportunity for them to make a solid case for their selection moving forward.
India predicted playing XI for 1st T20I:
Openers: In-form wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is all but certain to open the innings for India. There will be a coin flip for Kishan partner as India have two options - Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. If Jaiswal receives his maiden T20I cap then Gill might move down to No.3 in the batting order.
Middle order: With Gill at No.3, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and skipper Hardik will take their place in the middle order. Mumbai Indians' star batter Tilak Varma has been picked in the squad but the left-handed batter might have to wait for his chance.
Spinners: With Ravindra Jadeja not there in the T20I squad, Axar Patel is a certainty. Yazvendra Chahal didn't get even a single game in the ODI series and it would be interesting to see whether he gets picked for the T20Is. For now, Kuldeep Yadav is likely to partner with Axar in the spin department.
Fast bowlers: Mukesh Kumar was impressive in the ODI series and the right-arm pacer is likely to form the pace batter with Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik.
India Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WI vs IND, 1st T20I Weather Report: Will rain play spoilsport in Trinidad? Here's what the forecast looks like
Watch: Shaheen Afridi announces his arrival in The Hundred with spectacular back-to-back in-swinging deliveries, video goes viral
