India and Windies will square up in a three-match T20I series starting at the Eden Gardens Cricket Ground in Kolkata on Sunday, November 4, 2018. The first match will start at 7:00 PM IST, 1:30 PM GMT. The two sides played a five-match ODI series before this and the hosts won that 3-1.
The series was tied 1-1 after the third ODI, but India defeated Windies by 224 runs in the fourth game and later by nine wickets in the final game to clinch the series.
The T20I series will be more interesting as both the teams have a balanced unit in this format.
Interestingly, since 2016 the two teams have played four T20Is, three of which have been won by Windies while one ended without any result.
India squad: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 KL Rahul, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Dinesh Karthik, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Khaleel Ahmed
Star Sports live streaming info:
Star Sports holds the official television rights for this series. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 select will telecast the matches live for viewers in India. Hotstar will avail the online streaming option for the subscribers in India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Krunal Pandya likely to make his debut
According to an update by Cricbuzz, Krunal Pandya will be making his international debut in this match. The look of the middle-order will be a question to ask as captain Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are not part of the squad. Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik is expected to take the gloves in place of MS Dhoni.
Pant has been the preferred choice for the selectors in the recent times, hence it is likely that he will be slotted in as the wicketkeeper. Rohit Sharma will be seen leading the team once again in absence of Kohli.
A new-look Windies face a stiff challenge
Windies have a new look side with some players travelling in for just the T20s.
Specialists of this formats like Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, captain Carlos Braithwaite and a few others have joined the squad for these three matches.
Subsequently, some of the players from the ODI squad like Shai Hope, Keiran Powell, Marlon Samuels, ODI captain Jason Holder and some more players have gone back home. Cricbuzz reported that off-spinner Ashley Nurse had been ruled out of the series due to an injury which prevented him from featuring in the final ODI as well.
The pitch at the Eden Gardens has some bounce and offers swing with the new ball. One of the fastest pitches in the country also has a fast outfield as the ball travels like a tracer bullet. ESPN Cricinfo stats show that the teams chasing have found success at this ground more.
The weather forecast of Kolkata is clear and there are no chances of rain. With a gentle breeze blowing across the ground in the evening, it should be a pleasant day to play cricket.
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