"Miami Bound": Virat Kohli, Team India Members Depart For Month-Long Series Against West Indies

India vs West Indies 1st T20I Live Updates: West Indies post 109 for 8 in 20 overs, which is their lowest total against India in T20Is. Kuldeep Yadav (3/13), Krunal Pandya (1/15), Khaleel Ahmed (1/16), Jasprit Bumrah (1/27)

20:37 PM IST

Posted by rohan sen

West Indies post lowest T20I score against India

West Indies 109/8 (20 overs) against India in Kolkata. Kuldeep Yadav (3/13), Krunal Pandya (1/15), Khaleel Ahmed (1/16), Jasprit Bumrah (1/27)

"Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are injured at this time. Ashley Nurse will miss both the remainder of the India tour and the Bangladesh tour as he recovers from his injury. We wish the team every success on a challenging assignment in India," Browne said in a statement.

Kolkata: Star West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell was on Saturday ruled out of the three-match T20 series against India, dealing a big blow to the visitors on the eve of the opening game at the Eden Gardens here.

Rohit Sharma led India have named their 12-member aquad for the first T20I of the series against West Indies. Krunal Pandya is likely to make his debut in the first game of the series.India have named their 12-member squad for the first T20I of the three-match against West Indies to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. Both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik have been named in the squad but Rishabh will be keeping the wickets, which might see Karthik warm the bench. All-rounder Krunal Pandya has also been named in the 12-member squad and is likely to make his international debut as he is the sole all-rounder in the squad. He might team up with Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav for the spin duties. A limited-overs specialist, Krunal has played 62 T20s in which he has scored 967 runs and has scalped 51 wickets.

After successful stints in Tests and ODIs, India will look to register another series win against West Indies in the shortest format.

When Rohit Sharma will step up as captain for India in the 1st T20I against West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday, it will signal the dawn of a new era for the men in blue in the shortest format – a one without MS Dhoni. The 2007 T20I World Cup winning team skipper was excluded from the squad, with poor performances in the last few games. In spite of chief selector, MSK Prasad insisting that it will not be the end of Dhoni’s career in T20Is, with several youngsters such as Rishabh Pant, Krunal Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, making it into the team, it seems the wicketkeeper-batsman will find it hard to find a place for himself in the team.

Skipper Virat Kohli has also been rested from the T20Is as well which means once again, it will be Rohit Sharma, who will take on the captaincy duties. Sharma did not shy away from expressing his desire to become India’s captain in the limited-overs after leading India to Asia Cup title. The right-handed batsman also compared himself to Dhoni and said that he remains as calm as the former India captain on the field.

Now, after registering easy wins in Tests and ODIs, India will look towards Sharma to lead them into the T20Is to maintain India’s winning run at home, and also to prove his tenacity as captain. The Mumbai batsman was excellent in the 50-overs series, scoring 389 runs, at an average of 129.66, only less than Kohli. He also excelled with the bat in the Asia Cup and scored 317 runs in 5 games at an average of 105.67.

In Kohli’s absence, KL Rahul is expected to return to the side at No. 3 position. India will most likely include Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik into the team as well, with either of them taking over the keeping duties. It remains to be seen who fills up the middle order between Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer. India might spring up a surprise and give Krunal Pandya his maiden cap as well. The hosts are likely to go with five bowlers – three seamers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Khaleel Ahmed – and two spinners – Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

West Indies, who will be led by Carlos Braithwaite, could pose a tricky challenge with several T20 specialists including Kieron Pollard, Andre Russel, Darren Bravo returning to the team. The side won the 2016 T20I World Cup title with the final win coming at came at Eden Gardens, with Braithwaite smacking England’s Ben Stokes for three sixes in the final over. India also suffered a defeat at the hand of same opposition in 2016 T20I World Cup tournament against West Indies. The stats also favour the visitors in the format. In 8 T20Is between the two teams, India have won two, while lost five against the opposition.

For Windies, the 3-match T20I series is a shot at redemption, and they will hope they can overpower the home side to prove their capabilities in the shortest format.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, K Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Shahbaz Nadeem

West Indies Squad: Carlos Brathwaite (Capt), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas, Khary Pierre, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran