India and West Indies meet for a short Twenty20 (T20I) series which will be played in United States of America (USA). After a 2-0 thrashing received at the hands of a Team India, West Indies will like to bounce back in a format they are most comfortable in and try to beat India to attain the No. 2 spot in the ICC T20 rankings. West Indies have played in USA twice and won both the encounters so will be confident of pulling things back from a disappointing Test series against India. Here are some key clashes which may unfold in what promises to be a cracker of a contest between two top teams in the shortest format: Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs West Indies, 1st T20I at Lauderhill
Rohit Sharma vs Samuel Badree: India’s ‘talented’ opener has been in red hot form in the shorter formats. Though he did not have a fruitful ICC World Twenty20 (T20I) in India, he performed well in the semi-finals clash against eventual winners. He will look to score in the same stead but will have to face the slow and clever bowling of Badree. Badree bowls in the powerplays and also begins the proceedings, at times, for his side. He mixes it up well and can make things difficult for Rohit. If Rohit gets going, the match will become one-sided and hence it will be upon Badree as to how he holds him at the start. ALSO READ: IND vs WI: BCCI awards Paytm title sponsorship for T20I series
Virat Kohli vs Sunil Narine: The most awaited competition of the match will be when India’s run machine, Kohli, will be up against Nairne. These two missed out on going all out at each other as Nairne was missing from the World Twenty20 (T20I) but they will certainly be looking forward to dominate each other. The stature of both these players are such that if one of them clicks for their respective sides, the writing will be on the wall as to which side the match will tilt.
MS Dhoni vs Dwayne Bravo: Dhoni comes out to bat in the middle or death overs when Bravo holds one end from the bowlers end. These two are fond of each other and hold a great rapport since their Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing days but the spectators have lots to rejoice when the duo face each other as rivals. Dhoni has had issues with the slower balls and who better than Bravo with his off cutters and slow deliveries to outfox him. It will be interesting to see how much Dhoni succeeds in picking Bravo’s variations and it will also determine the crucial runs added for India in the end of the innings or while chasing.
Ravichandran Ashwin vs Lendl Simmons: An interesting battle can hold up between India’s premier off spinner, Ashwin and West Indies’ star from the last match between these two sides, Simmons. Simmons was unstoppable in the semi-finals of World Twenty20 (T20I) against India where he did not leave any bowler from the opposition’s end. He will be confident and eager to lead his team to a series win but will be up against an in-form Ashwin who knows how to mix it up and bowl in tight situations. Ashwin is known to comeback against batsmen who have had success over him and will remember the way he was picked up by Simmons in their last encounter at Wankhede stadium. ALSO READ: Bravo ‘excited and nervous’ about his Bollywood singing debut
Chris Gayle vs Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah rose to fame in a quick succession before the World Cup started in March-April due to his toe crunching yorkers. He got the wicket of West Indies’ destructive opener, Gayle in the warm up game in the lead up to the tournament and also dismissed him with a peach of a delivery in the semi-final. Gayle will be wary of his tricks and like to play him with more caution. An interesting battle may commence between them especially in the death overs if the left-hander stays for long.
Andre Russell vs Ravindra Jadeja: Jadeja could not do much for India in the sixth edition of the World Twenty20 (T20I) whereas Russell played a cameo to ensure his side’s win over the former champions in the semis. He will not only test Jadeja when the left-hander will come out to bat but Jadeja will also be ready for the task in hand while bowling against the hard-hitter Russell. Jadeja bowls with protection at the deep and will be determined to give the extra flight to Russell who will anyway go for the shots, regardless of the situation.
These two teams are giants of the shortest format and will like to get the better of each other in a new venue in USA. Carlos Brathwaite, the new skipper, will also have a decisive role to play along with Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan for India. Two star studded teams will ensure a tight series for the fans. ALSO READ: WI 2-0 win will displace India from No. 2 spot
(Aditya Sahay is a journalist with CricketCountry who is completely into sports and loves writing about cricket in general. He can be followed on Twitter at adisahay7)
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