West Indies v India, T20 series: India Predicted XI

India will face off against the West Indies in a two-match T20 series for the first time in Lauderhill, Florida. However, with the Indians depleted quite severely following the World T20, it is quite clear that the reinforcements are on the way as far as the Indians are concerned. With a few players who missed out back to full fitness, it is clear that the Indians will most certainly be a formidable proposition for the World Champions the West Indies. That said, here is the predicted XI for the upcoming T20 series between India and the West Indies 1. Shikhar Dhawan India’s Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images) Shikhar Dhawan has had a torrid 2016. In spite of being somewhat of an automatic selection in the squad, Dhawan has certainly not been his same old dominant self. He has been a caged lion in the recently concluded Test series. The southpaw got off to a good start in the Test series with a wonderful 84, something that quite effectively set the tone for the series. However, Dhawan’s performance in the rain-hit series was something not as flamboyant as he would have liked. That said, the 31-year old southpaw will be hoping that he impresses one and all with some splendid showings in the upcoming series and will be hoping to get back that swagger he once had before the start of the calendar year. 2. Rohit Sharma Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma plays a shot during a practice session. (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) Rohit Sharma will be expected to partner Shikhar Dhawan in the upcoming series, something that he has performed rather consistently over the past few years. However, the fact of the matter remains that he was not the first choice as far as Anil Kumble and the rest of the management was concerned. Moreover, the fact that KL Rahul has made a case for himself in T20 cricket after having performed well for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, given his lazy and elegant technique and the fact that it is far from a losing combination, Kumble will indeed be tempted to use Sharma as an opener. That said, Rohit Sharma will be looking to impress those who certainly believe that he has little or chance in making it into the Indian XI. If he is indeed left out, it is certain that Stuart Binny will be roped in as a replacement. 3. KL Rahul Indian batsman Lokesh Rahul. (Photo by JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) KL Rahul’s career has smashed upward curves. Although he has been with the Indian side for slightly less than a couple of years, it seems as though he has been playing for almost a decade with this side. Having made an impact on the Test scene as well, Rahul will be hoping that he can do the same this time around. Rahul also received many a plaudit following some impressive batting performances in the T20 internationals in the recently concluded tour of Zimbabwe. Rahul also went on to claim the man of the match award for the same. Moreover, the fact of the matter sees Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble in somewhat of a selection conundrum. That said, Rahul will be hoping to latch onto the opportunity should it find its way to him in the upcoming series. 4. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter) The India Test skipper impressed one and all with a magnificent double century in the first Test match. In spite of not being all that impressive in the following matches, Kohli is perhaps India’s most watched cricket at the moment. His ability to turn on the heat in T20 cricket has seen him be the beneficiary of a wonderful innings in the quarterfinal of the World T20 encounter against Australia at Mohali. However, his more recent performances will be centered around his teammates and their performances. That said, the Indian side will be looking at Kohli to perform so that they can provide performances and bat around him. He will also be looking to make an impact with the bat and also score his maiden ton in T20 cricket. 5. Ajinkya Rahane Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: BCCI) The Indian Test match vice-captain is perhaps in the form of his life at the moment. Having come away from the Test series as the highest run-getter and a century to his name, Ajinkya Rahane has become one of the most important players in the Indian side. However, while Rahane has been impressive in the Test format, his T20I form speaks extremely low of what he is more than capable of achieving. However, having impressed, Anil Kumble will be hoping that he does indeed make an impact on the series. That said, Rahane, who will be somewhat of an automatic pick in the side amid the reports that the Indians have selected fewer batsmen than they usually do will certainly go on to mean that Rahane will be an important figure in the batting scheme of things. 6. MS Dhoni (WK & Skipper) India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (Photo credit should read JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images) The 35-year old Indian wicket-keeper batsman had made out his way to Florida, all the way from India to take part in the T20I series, one of the rare few assignments that he will be a part of. In spite of his diminishing finishing abilities, it is clear that Dhoni will be expected to lead from the front. This will also be the first time that Dhoni and Kumble will be working in the captain-coach combination. Dhoni has played under Kumble when the latter was in the twilight of his career and also took over from him when he retired. 7. Ravindra Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja of India. (Photo by Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Ravindra Jadeja has been somewhat of a subdued player and a liability in the Indian unit for some time now. However, the fact that he can bat and bowl in equal capacity makes him somewhat of an invaluable player in the India side. The Test series as far as Jadeja was concerned was a simple case of bad form. He played just the one Test at St. Lucia and failed to make an impact as he was subsequently dropped for the following match against the Windies at Trinidad. That said, Jadeja will be hoping to make an impact in the upcoming Test series where he will be hoping to make some progress as well as impress the new coach. 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) The 26-year old impressed in the recently concluded Test series when he came into the squad for the final two Test matches. The third Test consummated Bhuvi’s comeback as he claimed a five-wicket haul, something that guaranteed him his place in the side for the following matches. The fact that Bhuvneshwar Kumar can now bowl at a pace as high as the late 140’s makes him an invaluable asset to the Indian side. Moreover, his ability to bowl in the death as well as swing the ball in both directions is something simply astounding. That said, Kumar will be hoping to make the best of his opportunity and grab headlines on his comeback. Moreover, he will be hoping to impress Anil Kumble and make a case for himself in the future squad selection. 9. Ravichandran Ashwin Ravichandran Ashwin of India. (Photo by Pal Pillai/IDI via Getty Images) Ravi Ashwin was quite clearly the player of the tournament in the Test series. However, the fact that he proved to be quite a handful with the bat as well makes a stern case for himself in the T20 squad. Ashwin is the type of player one looks up to making a keen performance as well as grabbing headlines. The 29-year old is also MS Dhoni’s go-to spinner each time the skipper dawns upon him and tasks him with grabbing a wicket. Ashwin will also be an automatic selection in the squad as he will be expected to gain some turn on the flat tracks of Lauderhill, Florida. 10. Jasprit Bumrah India’s Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) In less than a year, Jasprit Bumrah has become India’s premier bowler in the T20 format. The 23-year old who has a strange action has been a handful to handle. He also impressed in the recently concluded encounter against Zimbabwe and will be hoping to repeat his antics in the upcoming tour. Bumrah will also be hoping to add to his wickets tally in T20 internationals, something that he has already shown he can most certainly do. Moreover, his death bowling prowess will also come to the fore against a strong West Indies unit. As far as Anil Kumble is concerned, he will be hoping that Bumrah can show some composure, something he has shown while he was a part of the Mumbai Indians. 11. Mohammad Shami India’s bowler Mohammed Shami. (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) Mohammad Shami’s comeback was consummated by some impressive bowling performances in the test series in the Caribbean. However, the fact remains that he will be India’s premier bowler in years to come in all formats of the game. He concluded the Test series as India’s second highest wicket-taker after Ravichandran Ashwin. However, Shami will only know all too well that this is an entirely different ball game. That said, it is only safe to assume that Shami will be expected to play a pivotal role in the shaping up of the Indian pace bowling attack in years to come.

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