As the India vs West Indies T20 series in 2023 comes into view, numerous players are vying for a position in the squad. Here’s a peek at the likely line-up for the upcoming series:
Batters
The likely batters include:
- Rahul Tripathi
- Rinku Singh
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Shubman Gill
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Key Selection Insights
- Based on their performance in the recent New Zealand T20I series, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Suryakumar Yadav are predicted to be the team’s primary batters.
- IPL 2023 star, Yashasvi Jaiswal, may step in as a replacement for Prithvi Shaw.
- Rahul Tripathi, who demonstrated exceptional skill in the final T20I against New Zealand, might be given another shot.
Wicketkeepers
The probable wicketkeepers are:
- Ishan Kishan
- Jitesh Sharma
With Kishan expected to serve as the wicketkeeper-opener and Sharma to perform the role of the finisher, this pair is likely to be the squad’s main wicketkeeping contingent.
All-rounders
The anticipated all-rounders are:
- Axar Patel
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
Key Selection Insights
- The trio of Patel, Pandya, and Jadeja is expected to fill the all-rounder slots in the squad. Deepak Hooda’s lacklustre performance in the New Zealand T20I series and IPL 2023 makes his selection unlikely.
- If available and fit, Washington Sundar may replace Jadeja, potentially resting to manage his workload.
Bowlers
The likely bowlers include:
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mukesh Kumar
- Shivam Mavi
- Umran Malik
- Yuzvendra Chahal
The bowling division is likely to remain stable with Singh, Kumar, Mavi, and Malik leading the pace attack, while Yadav and Chahal continue as the main spinners. Ravi Bishnoi could be a consideration, but likely not at the expense of the primary spinners.
Final Predicted T20 Squad for the Series
Here is the summarized predicted T20 squad for Team India in the India vs West Indies 2023 series:
- Batters: Rahul Tripathi, Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
- Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma.
- All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja.
- Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Given the series comprises five T20Is, it would be prudent for India to select 17 members, one more than the usual 16. Fresh faces like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma will be interesting additions to look out for.
Official T20 Series Schedule
The official schedule for the India vs West Indies 2023 T20 series is as follows:
Match Number | Venue | Date | Time |
1st T20I | Trinidad | August 03 | 8 pm IST |
2nd T20I | Guyana | August 06 | 8 pm IST |
3rd T20I | Guyana | August 08 | 8 pm IST |
4th T20I | Florida | August 12 | 8 pm IST |
5th T20I | Florida | August 13 | 8 pm IST |