Fresh from their gold medal triumph at the Asian Games, a confident Indian side returns to home soil tonight as they begin a five-match T20 International series against the West Indies at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.
Led by Shreyas Iyer, India will look to carry their winning momentum into the shortest format, while the West Indies, under Shai Hope, will be keen to bounce back after losing the recent One-Day International series. The opening T20I gets underway at 7:00 PM and will be broadcast live on Star Sports and Jio Hotstar.
For Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No. 1 radio station, the big talking point heading into the series is India’s opening combination. The team management faces another selection call at the top of the order, with explosive opener Abhishek Sharma expected to retain his place and the remaining slot becoming a straight contest between experienced campaigner Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Samson opened for India during the recent series against Afghanistan, while Sooryavanshi made an impression when given his opportunity at the Asian Games. Both bring different qualities to the role, leaving the management with an intriguing decision to make ahead of the series opener. The choice will also offer an indication of India’s plans for the top order going forward.
Behind the openers, India have plenty of batting depth. Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma provide a strong middle-order core, while Axar Patel and Shivam Dube add valuable all-round options. With a combination of experience, power and flexibility, India’s batting unit appears well equipped to handle a variety of match situations.
The bigger concern for the hosts could be their bowling. India’s bowling performances during the ODI series provided the coaching staff with plenty to assess, and head coach Gautam Gambhir will be looking for greater consistency and control in the T20 format.
Arshdeep Singh is expected to lead the pace attack, with the raw speed of Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav adding another dimension. In the spin department, Axar Patel will combine with Kuldeep Yadav, giving India two contrasting options through the middle overs. How effectively India control that phase could prove crucial against a West Indies side packed with aggressive hitters.
The Caribbean team arrives with a very different-looking T20I unit compared with its ODI side. Shai Hope’s squad boasts considerable power-hitting experience, with IPL-proven names such as Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Akeal Hosein providing plenty of firepower.
West Indies will also have Amir Jangoo in their ranks after his successful ODI campaign. He comes into the squad as a replacement for the injured Jewel Andrew, adding another option to a side determined to put the disappointment of the ODI series defeat behind it.
For Hope, the challenge will be to turn the individual match-winning ability within the squad into a collective performance. The West Indies have several players capable of changing the game in a matter of overs, and India’s bowlers will need to maintain discipline if they are to prevent the visitors from dictating the tempo.
At the same time, India will hope their stronger batting depth and variety in the bowling attack can give them the ideal start to the five-match series.
But before the first ball is bowled in Lucknow, one question is likely to dominate the conversation: Sanju Samson or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — who gets the chance to partner Abhishek Sharma at the top?
For India, it is one selection call that could set the tone for the entire T20I series.
