WI vs IND: India’s predicted playing XI for 1st T20I

West Indies and India will lock horns for five T20Is, starting from July 29, Friday. The two teams earlier met in February for three T20Is in India, which the hosts won 3-0. West Indies, however, come into the series on the back of a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh in the T20Is earlier in the month.

India, since the conclusion of the IPL 2022 in May, drew the series 2-2 against South Africa at home, won the away series 2-0 against Ireland, and 2-1 against England. They would like to carry forward the momentum they have gathered over the last two months into this series.

Let’s look at India’s probable playing XI for the 1st T20I against West Indies:

Openers: Rohit Sharma (c) and Rishabh Pant (wk)

Skipper Rohit Sharma has not been consistently among the runs lately, which is a concern. But it is only a matter of time before Rohit, one of the best white-ball batters over the last decade, starts firing again.

India might go with the opening combination of Rohit and Rishabh Pant yet again. Although this was not particularly effective in England, India might persist with this pairing and observe how it pans out. Pant also has not been among the runs in T20Is. However, he was in good nick in the other two formats in England and would look to bring that rhythm into the T20Is.

Middle Order: Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik

The middle order has been India’s strong point, and it has come to their rescue time and again over the last month when the top order failed. Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav must start given that both average over 40 with a strike rate of over 170, in 2022. Both have scored a century each in just over the last month.

Dinesh Karthik is one of the first names on the team sheet, given his form with the bat late in the innings since the start of the IPL 2022. His quickfire cameos have been crucial in setting up a competitive total or taking his side over the finish line.

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja

Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have been the two players that provide the side with balance and depth with their all-round abilities. Jadeja has been one of India’s go-to finishers in recent times and can also perform as a specialist spinner.

Pandya, since the start of the IPL, has regained his mojo as the fast-bowling all-rounder. He is a wicket-taker and a dependable middle-order batter. Both the all-rounders are supreme athletes and top-class fielders.

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh might be given the nod after an impressive performance in his first T20I game earlier this month. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the new-ball bowler, and Harshal Patel, the death-over specialist, are virtually guaranteed starters. Ravi Bishnoi will be the specialist spinner in the team.

Bhuvneshwar and Harshal have been the two top wicket-takers in the format in the last year. This bowling combination, with two all-rounders, provides India with six bowling options – four pacers and two spinners.