India kept the five-match T20I series alive by winning the third match in Guyana but will also need to continue calling the shots in the remaining matches as the series moves on to Lauderhill in the US.
While this is an opportunity for Hardik Pandya’s men to sort out the combination ahead of the T20 World Cup next year, it also gives some of the players a chance to prove their mettle before the ODI World Cup at home.
Tilak Varma is a case in point. The youngster is just three T20Is old in his international career, but his temperament and application have already caught the eye. So much so that Ravichandran Ashwin felt he should make it to the ODI World Cup squad.
India don’t have a left-hander in their first-choice top six in ODIs and he would be a welcome addition. However, having been already picked for the Asian Games, his availability could be in doubt since substitutes are not allowed to be picked in the Asian Games squad. India’s first match in the World Cup is on October 8 which clashes with the Asian Games cricket final.
Arshdeep Singh. PTI photo
India also need to work upon their opening combination. They handed Yashasvi Jaiswal a T20I debut in the last game, resting Ishan Kishan. But for the third successive match, the opening pair failed to impress, making just six runs. Jaiswal, who had an impressive Test debut, got out to pacer Obed McCoy in the first over itself.
In the previous two matches, Kishan and Shubman Gill had managed to score just 5 and 16 in an opening stand, that had put pressure on the middle order. Whether India will bring back Kishan for Saturday’s match remains to be seen, but the management needs to decide on a permanent pair to allow them to settle into their roles.
Gill finished the ODI series as the second-highest run-getter with a tally of 126. However, runs have been hard to come by in the T20I series with him being dismissed in single digits in all three innings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal. PTI photo
But the way Tilak carried the burden on his shoulders has been remarkable. The Hyderabad better has scores of 39 (22 balls), 51 (41 balls) and 49 (37 balls) so far. He is currently the leading run-scorer in the series with 139 at an average of 69.50. Suryakumar Yadav also returned to form in the last match and that should serve as good news for the middle order.
In bowling, Arshdeep Singh’s inability to tie the batters down has also been a concern. India’s go-to bowler in the shortest format has been the most expensive with an economy of 8.90 in the three matches. In contrast, Kuldeep Yadav has been the most economical at 6.00.
West Indies are not going to the ODI World Cup, but under Rovman Powell, they are rebuilding their T20I side. In March, they beat South Africa 2-1 and now have a chance to win back-to-back T20I series for the first time since 2017.
West Indies are on the brink of a series win, a chance to win their first rubber of two or more matches against India, in any format, since 2016.
Today’s match
■ India vs West Indies, 4th T20I, 8pm IST, live on DD Sports, FanCode and Jio Cinema
