India's best possible XI for the T20I series against West Indies

A contest between West Indies and India is always a power-packed affair. With both teams having swashbuckling batters capable of hitting the ball far away into the stands puts bowlers in a challenging yet competitive position. West Indies will tour India for a three-match T20I series to be held in Kolkata at Eden Gardens.

A fresher side, the Caribbean team looks to be on a roll producing match-winning performances vs England in the T20I series. The Indian team, on the other hand, has not played a T20I match since November 2021.

With the leadership duties lying on the newly-appointed captain Rohit Sharma, he will look to come back and rebuild the squad that has not been at the top of its form since the last few matches. He will look to stretch the lead of 10-6 over West Indies in T20I and hope to structure a side for the T20 World Cup later this year. While the T20 series commences in mid of Feb, Let’s take a look at

India’s best possible XI for the T20I series against WI

1. Rohit Sharma (C)

Donning new colours in the same Indian blue as the new limited-overs captain, Rohit Sharma, will look to start the team’s 2022 T20I calendar on a high. Returning to the action after a hamstring injury that kept him away from the SA tour, his contributions back at the top of the order is something everyone would be awaiting.

Rohit Sharma has been an automatic select into any format’s playing XI in recent times. The Hitman was in fine form with the bat last calendar year. Amassing 424 runs in the eleven innings he batted, India always looked to be in safe hands. Striking the ball at 150.89 and assuring a steady start to India’s batting innings, he scored a total of five fifties last year.

Adjudged player of the series in India’s last T20I series vs New Zealand, Rohit Sharma, will hope to continue his services as the swashbuckling batter he is known to be. His addition to this list is a no-brainer as he will start as one of the two openers.

2. KL Rahul 

Just like his fellow opener, KL Rahul has been handed leadership duties as the Men in Blue’s new limited-overs vice-captain. The 29-year-old will look to dominate versus the West Indies bowlers after a poor outing in the recent SA ODI series.

KL Rahul is known for churning out runs and ripping the bowling attack during his best days. A career strike rate of 142.49 and four fifties in 11 innings in 2021 often took India to massive totals. In his last T20I game, both openers put up a steady 117 run partnership in 13 overs, with him ending the series as the fourth-highest run-getter, playing two out of the three matches.

Having tasted success on multiple occasions, Rahul-Rohit has been the first-choice openers for the Indian team. Being amongst the most highly regarded opening batter lately, he will aim at replicating his past performances helping India maintain a healthy record at home.

3. Virat Kohli

It seems like the former captain of the Indian side is slowly getting his mojo back. While he has been amidst the runs in almost all matches, Virat Kohli’s inability to get to the much-awaited 71st century overshadows his contributions with the bat. Playing his first T20I match since the World Cup exit, King Kohli would look to produce magic with his bat.

Off his eight T20I innings in 2021, Virat Kohli has remained not out on four occasions with the highest total of 80* vs England. His strike rate of 132.89 ensures the scoreboard’s ticking, despite the fall of a wicket, while having the ability to shift gears into an attacking mode within overs.

While Virat Kohli looked off-colour in the World Cup in November, it is hard to drop a player like him from this list. Regardless of his performances, there are always expectations of huge scores whenever he steps into the ground. A couple of good innings in the recently concluded ODI series vs Proteas will surely give him confidence as he will take on the West Indies this February.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Stylish. Finesse. Unorthodox. The sky is the limit for Suryakumar Yadav. Making his debut into the national side last year, he has looked better with every innings he plays. He is not a batter who backs down from experimentation and innovating. The middle-order batter will hope to take his consistency to the home T20I series vs West Indies.

Striking at 155.41, Surya is a talent in the middle order. Not only can he build an innings, but he can also go aggressive from the word go. Scoring a total of 244 in the nine innings he played since his debut last year, Surya has managed to get three fifties to his name.

His performances in the IPL have helped him gain a spot in the XI consistently. While he was dismissed for a duck in his last T20I game vs New Zealand in 2021, his latest performance of 39 in the ODI vs SA gave promising hopes during the Indian chase. He would look at upping his ante to ensure a place in the squad which is looking to make a comeback in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Suryakumar’s addition forms a solid middle order in the setup.

5. Rishabh Pant (W)

The ravishing young Indian wicketkeeper is a lethal weapon in the shortest format. Pouncing on deliveries with ease and sending them straight into the stands, Rishabh Pant during his short 5-year long T20I career has emerged as a match-winner for India.

Another big hitter of the cricket ball, 2021 was a good T20I year for the 24-year-old. Being amongst the runs in the IPL and international cricket, he scored a total of 416 and 213 runs respectively. While stats suggest that the southpaw keeper strikes at 125.29, once he gets set, he is capable of producing a blinder of an innings, striking almost all balls to the boundary.

Rishabh Pant has been caught under the scanner for his reckless shot selections lately, leaving him on the wrong side of the tale in a couple of situations now. With Ishan Kishan in the wings, Rishabh needs to focus on staying till the end and help finish games for the Indian team. Being one of the most integral part of the setup, he is the best keeper choice for the XI vs West Indies.

6. Venkatesh Iyer

This all-rounder’s journey is an epitome of a skyrocketing career. From debuting in the circuit during the second half of the IPL to earning call ups and playing for the Indian limited formats, it has been a dream start for Venkatesh Iyer. With injury and performance concerns around Hardik Pandya, Iyer has proven to be a great alternative in the Indian team.

While Venkatesh Iyer is relatively new to the international arena, his stardom in the domestic circuit is to admire. A great IPL season for KKR and scoring 379 runs and scalping nine wickets in 6 innings at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was knocking on the selector’s door to grab the fast bowling all-rounder’s spot. Featuring in 3 T20Is till now, Venkatesh has not been able to create much of an impact in the result of a match, however, he still looks promising. The two T20I matches vs West Indies will be the perfect opportunity for the all-rounder to exhibit his talent.

India has struggled to find a fast bowling hard-hitting all-rounder, something which Venkatesh Iyer possesses. However, with the likes of Shardul Thakur in the squad, might be something to worry about for Iyer as he will need to produce a couple of matches winning innings with the bat and ball. He is still one of the best candidates to feature in XI vs West Indies.

7. Axar Patel

A match-winning spinner, a handy batter, and a valuable fielder, Axar Patel’s inclusion to this list should not come as a surprise. The orthodox spinner manages to get something off the pitch, each time he comes on to bowl, spinning a web around the batter. With the absence of Ravindra Jadeja from the squad, Axar Patel’s involvement might come a lot in handy for the Men in Blue.

While Axar Patel has been a part of the Indian setup since 2014, he hasn’t been a part of a lot of T20Is. In his 15 T20Is, he has taken 13 wickets at a good economy of 6.7. In the four matches he played in 2021, he scalped 4 wickets at an economy of 6.43. In his last T20I match in November 2021, he emerged as the man of the match for his match figures of 3/9. He hasn’t made a lot of contributions with the bat, however, his economical overs with the ball at any phase of the match, make him a star pick in the squad.

The Gujarati allrounder enjoyed his time at the IPL becoming Delhi Capital’s second-highest wicket-taker. As the competition for the spinning allrounder’s spot toughens with names like Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin in the mix, Axar will look to capitalize on this series to make a place for himself in the side that’s building towards the T20 World Cup 2022.

8. Deepak Chahar 

Deepak Chahar has become the man to look out for, each time India is in a deep hole during a chase. From taking India home with his 69* vs Sri Lanka to almost pulling off a great victory with his 54 vs South Africa, he could be the bowling all-rounder India has been looking out for. A classical swing bowler is known to produce breakthroughs in the power plays could play an instrumental role for India vs West Indies.

While his economy has been a little towards the higher end (8.11), his 23 wickets in 17 T20I matches have helped India make breakthroughs during the initial part of their bowling innings. In his last T20I match, he played a cameo of 21* off 8 balls in an innings consisting of 2 fours and a maximum. Unfortunately, he was expensive with the ball conceding 26 off his two overs.

A bowler of Chahar’s caliber is very helpful in swinging conditions. With bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd. Shami being, he will look to take full advantage and possibly place himself as an automatic selection for the future series. He is another player in the list of best T20 XI for the series.

9. Harshal Patel

Leaving Harshal Patel out of the final squad for the World Cup 2021 is where India might have missed the trick. Not only in the IPL, but he also ended as the highest wicket-taker in his international debut series vs New Zealand in 2021. With the team building towards the next World Cup, and each match carrying more importance, Harshal Patel could prove his worth to find a place in the squad this year.

In his two T20Is, he took 4 wickets at an economy of 7.28 and a strike rate of 10.5. He also made a valuable contribution in the lone innings he batted, scoring 18 at a strike rate of 163.63. A handy batter in the lower order, his addition would help to deepen the batting depth.

His wobbly pace and outswingers can help the West Indies batsman fall prey. He will hope to carry his form from last year and look to cement his place as the team’s first-choice pacer in the coming times.

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Taking his recent form into consideration, this selection may seem incredulous. He may not be the Bhuvneshwar Kumar fans have seen over the years. However, with senior bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd Shami rested from the series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most experienced bowlers of the pack. Thriving on this, he will surely look at creating an impact before India chooses to look at other options.

He played 12 T20Is in the 2021 calendar year. In the 40 overs he bowled, he scalped 12 wickets with the best match figures of 4/22. An economy of 6.59 in 2021 and a career economy rate of 6.95 often help to control the bowling innings. He can play a couple of shots too, which gives the team hope towards the latter half of the batting order.

Getting dropped from the ODI series vs West Indies and being one the senior-most bowler will surely motivate him to move towards the player he has been for India over the years. This could be one of his last chances to prove himself and the management will most probably play him in the XI for the T20I series. His experience will surely come in handy to guide the young bowlers adding him to the possible best XI in the Indian squad.

11. Yuzvendra Chahal 

Yuzvendra Chahal has found back his groove. An attacking leg spinner, this 31-year-old will play a vital part in India’s bowling unit vs West Indies. Fighting his way back into the squad after getting omitted from the 2021 T20 World Cup, the leg spinner will aim at occupying the position of the prime spinner post the series.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been one of the best spinners for the country in the shorter formats for a couple of years. His sudden pace deliveries and flight deceive the batter providing breakthroughs at crucial points for India. He has castled a total of 64 wickets in 50 T20I matches he has played, five out of which were from last year of 5 matches. He will look to improve upon his economy of 8.20 which is towards the higher end.

Chahal has a huge opportunity in front of him as he has only affected four dismissals against West Indies while going at 9.09 an over (average). Backing his skills, he will hope that Eden Gardens will have a lot to offer to him as he is another bowler looking to cement his place in the XI. Being one of the best spinners in the squad for the series, he is added to this list.