West Indies vs India – 1st International T20 Preview & Prediction
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THE FACTS
When is West Indies vs India taking place? Thursday, August 3rd, 2023 – 15:30 (UK)
Where is West Indies vs India taking place? Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba
What channel is West Indies vs India on? West Indies vs India will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports
Where can I stream West Indies vs India? West Indies vs India can be streamed in the UK on discovery+
LAST MEETING
India beat West Indies by 88 runs
THE LOWDOWN
WEST INDIES
West Indies will hope that the shortest format of the game gives them more of a chance in terms of winning a series against an Indian side who have dominated them over the course of this tour so far. They are boosted by the return of a number of potential gamechangers such as Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein and Odean Smith. Nicholas Pooran is returning on the back of a star showing for MI New York in Major League Cricket, which saw him strike a destructive unbeaten century in the final, whilst Shimron Hetmyer should be right in his element playing T20 cricket.
INDIA
Expect to see a vastly changed India side in T20 with many key players not set to take part, such as captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, not to mention bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. But this gives an opportunity for a number of their younger, less experienced players to stake a claim for a place in the first-choice XI moving forward. Players like Ishan Kishan fall into this category, as does exciting opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (yet to be capped in T20i cricket).
THE PREDICTION
Although India’s strength-in-depth is the envy of international cricket, they face a West Indies side full of proven T20i performers, if not for their country, then certainly at franchise level. The big question is whether they can click together as a collective unit. If they can, then they are capable of inflicting severe punishment upon these Indian bowlers. Therefore, backing West Indies to lay down a marker and win this first T20i is worth serious consideration.
TIP: INDIA TO WIN
