(ESPNcricinfo) – Though West Indies failed to qualify for the main event of the last T20 World Cup – and the upcoming ODI World Cup – their T20I side seems to be in better health than their ODI and Test teams. Either side of the T20 World Cup’s first round in 2022, West Indies challenged New Zealand in a 2-1 series defeat at home, and beat South Africa 2-1 away. They will be bolstered further by the return of Nicholas Pooran, who propelled MI New York to the MLC title last Sunday with a sensational 137 not out off 55 balls. Allrounders Jason Holder, Odean Smith and Akeal Hosein are also back in the mix.
India will be without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj for the T20I leg of the West Indies and USA tours, but their line-up still drips with power and class, thanks to their IPL heroes. After having lit up his Test debut with 171 in Dominica, Yashasvi Jaiswal could potentially make his T20I debut on Thursday in Tarouba, and open alongside Shubman Gill. There could also be a debut for Tilak Varma, who has been the engine room of Mumbai Indians’ middle order since Hardik Pandya moved to Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Varma will now combine with Pandya to marshal India’s middle order.
This could be another opportunity for Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan to prove their white-ball chops and firm up their cases to be India’s back-up wicketkeeper behind KL Rahul, who is on the road to recovery from injury.
For West Indies, this series marks the beginning of a long T20 home season, with the CPL set to begin on August 16, three days after the end of the T20I series against India in Lauderhill, USA. Strong performances in this series – and the following CPL – could help West Indies shape their side for their home T20 World Cup next year.
