WI vs IND: India’s Predicted Playing XI for 5th T20I

India have secured an unassailable lead of 3-1 with one more game to go against West Indies in the ongoing five-match series. Skipper Rohit Sharma has led the troops quite well so far and India is yet to lose a T20I series since the T20 World Cup 2021. Head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit have combined well with two more months to go into the prestigious T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

India decided to rest the likes of Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, and R Ashwin for the fourth game and handed chances to Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson and Ravi Bishnoi, which proved quite fruitful. The management also backed the youngster Avesh Khan despite his expensive outings in the previous two games and he came up with a match-winning performance of 2/17.

With the Asia Cup being held before the T20 World Cup 2022, India will be looking to check the form of the big players and hence, the fifth T20I will present a chance for the players on the bench.

Here is India’s predicted playing XI against West Indies in 5th T20I:

Openers: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan

Rohit Sharma scored a 16-ball 33 in the previous game, which included three sixes and two fours, at a strike rate of above 200. The right-hander has been looking to take advantage of the field restrictions in the powerplay. The skipper will be looking to end the series on a strong note to ensure he is in good form ahead of the upcoming big assignments.

Ishan Kishan has been on the bench for a while. He last played a T20I game against England in June. The left-hander was out of the playing XI for the three ODIs against West Indies and is yet to play a game in the Caribbean tour so far. He had a terrific home series against South Africa and is likely to get a chance for the fifth T20I.