7 Players to watch out for in the India - West Indies T20I Series

The Test series might have been a one-sided affair but the contest is going to be tough when India and West Indies clash against each other in the historic T20 series set to be begin in the unmapped territories of Miami. The matches, which are scheduled to be played on consecutive days this weekend, will play a very crucial role in helping the game find a foothold in the United States. It will be really tough to predict the favorite and it would best if we sit back and wait for the match day to arrive. The last time these two sides faced each other, the West Indies knocked out India in the semi-finals at the Wankhede. Both the line-ups are strong and star-studded. The world champions in this format return to their full strength while the Indians will be banking upon its batting superiority. The return of the big names is the most attractive fact of these couple of game other than the venue. There are many names on whom the eyes will be on and fans would expect them to sizzle irrespective of which team they support. 1. Lokesh Rahul: India batsman Lokesh Rahul. (Photo credit JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) The year 2016 saw KL Rahul shed his Test specialist tag and prove that he is a man suitable for all formats. He had a stupendous run for Royal Challengers Bangalore where he made 397 runs batting at the top of the Virat Kohli-led side and made 397 runs at a strike rate of 146.49. This amazing show earned him his maiden call to the limited overs team for the tour of Zimbabwe. He did not disappoint there also. Later he followed it up with a successful Test series against the West Indies has made him one of the most exciting names in Indian cricket at the moment. But, despite all these performances, the opening batsman is yet to seal his place in the team and it will be interesting to see what strategy is employed to fit him in the starting XI. But, if given a chance, KL Rahul surely promises to make the opportunity count. 2. Rohit Sharma: Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma. (Photo credit MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Rohit Sharma has been going through a lean patch recently in the limited overs format. Asia Cup T20 also wasn’t that great for him. The World T20 was also a sort of silent affair for him. Later, apart from a couple of good knocks, he couldn’t do much for his IPL side Mumbai Indians. But, all these indifferent performances this year doesn’t bring down his threat at all. The management too has not let him down and has continued to show faith in him. His reputation in the limited overs format is remarkable and once things start falling line, there’s no doubt about the fact that there would be stopping for him. This might be the perfect opportunity for the seamer to prove his worth once again. Therefore, all the eyes will be on him when he comes out to bat this weekend. 3. Carlos Brathwaite: Carlos Brathwaite of the West Indies. (Photo by Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) It didn’t take long for Carlos Brathwaite to become a superstar. Say four balls to be precise. The giant Barbadian stole the limelight in the World T20 finals at Eden Gardens earlier this year after hitting Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the final over to etch his name in the history books. He may be a lightweight in International cricket but a lot has changed for him a short span of time. Brathwaite has played only 3 Tests, 14 ODIs, and 3 T20Is so far in his career which began only last year. However, the WICB and the senior players have show faith and confidence to give the captaincy role following Darren Sammy’s ouster. He now will face the challenge of making a smooth transition and proving his mettle as the leader when he will take the field as the skipper of the West Indies. 4. Andre Russell: Andre Russell of the West Indies. (Photo by Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) A batsman who hits the ball hard enough to scare the bowlers and a bowler who can snap early wickets with the new ball, Andre Russell has been an asset for whichever team he has played so far. His return will sure add strength to his side. Andre Russell has had a great 2016 personally. He has proved his worthiness in the past couple of years and is one of the most sought after all-rounders in the world cricket at the moment. He began the year with two T20 titles playing for Adelaide Strikers and Islamabad United. His time in the IPL, CPL, and the Natwest T20 Blast has also been productive. To conclude, he is currently in wonderful form and will be a huge threat for the Indians in the upcoming game. 5. Chris Gayle: Chris Gayle. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) Chris Gayle, arguably, will be the biggest crowd puller in Florida. The World Boss has an impeccable reputation in this format. His absence in the Test series was deeply felt by the West Indies. His return will surely be a major boost to the batting order. Apart from adding more teeth to the batting order, his performance will be vital to ensure that the entertaining factor remains high during them match. His destructive batting and six hitting ability is very well known in the cricketing world. But, this would be an opportunity for him to not only help his team regain some pride by winning the T20 series but also give the Americans a sweet taste of the T20 format. 6. Mohammad Shami: India’s bowler Mohammed Shami. (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) Despite been one of the most talented fast bowlers in India at the moment, Mohammad Shami has been rarely got the opportunity to play in the in the T20 format by India. He’s only played 4 T20Is with his last one coming in September, 2014. But, these seldom appearances in the shortest has nothing to do with his capability. Fitness related issues have affected his career badly. But after spending close to one and a half years recovering from a troubled knee, he looks perfectly fine a raring to go. Also, his confidence must be high after having had a good Test series. Considering, his recent form, it appears to be highly unlikely that he will be left out of the starting XI. His addition will be a good bet to complete the balanced line-up. 7. MS Dhoni MS Dhoni, Captain of India. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Every limited overs series which MS Dhoni plays these days is special for his fans. While the first half of 2016 had a packed limited over schedule the second half focused mainly on the longer format. This meant that Dhoni could appear only in a handful of matches. This sole reason is enough to judge why fans would be waiting for their favorite skipper to step on the field. The venue of the match is another reason why the buzz and excitement is very high as neither MS Dhoni nor the Indian team has played at Lauderhill before. Therefore, it’s quite natural that the huge Indian population based in the States will be eager to watch their world cup winning live in action leading his team against the current world Champions.

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7 Players to watch out for in the India - West Indies T20I Series

7. MS Dhoni

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