India vs West Indies Highlights, 1st T20I at Kolkata: India win by 6 wickets

Ravi Bishnoi is named the Man of the Match for his fantastic figures of 4-0-17-2!

A comfortable win in the end. West Indies were below par in the first innings and that cost them. With the dew factor coming in and short boundaries they needed the cushion of a good competitive total. The Indian spinners bowled well and apart from Iyer, all the batsmen chipped in with wickets as they restricted the Windies to 157/7. It was under par. 

Rohit gave India a brisk start. Kishan struggled a bit but still those 35 runs were vital. Kohli and Pant couldn’t bat long but Suryakumar finished the match off with a brisk 34 off 18 balls along with Iyer who made 24 off 13 balls.

India win the 1st T20I by 6 wickets.

SIX! Venkatesh Iyer finishes it in style with a SIX. Iyer heaves it over deep mid-wicket, off Allen and it sails over the fielder.

FOUR! Brilliant placement. It’s full outside off, Suryakumar drives it through point but oepning the face of the bat. Lot of wrist involved. Just 3 needed now.

After 18 overs,India 149/4 ( Suryakumar Yadav 28 , Venkatesh Iyer 17)

Sensible stuff from India. They don’t need to do anything out of the box and extraordinary. They take singles and twos off the first four balls then there was one full toss to be hit but Suryakumar miscues it to the off side for a single. Shepherd then delives a full toss again, it’s the dew effect it seems, Iyer smacks it to long on for a FOUR. 10 runs off the over. 9 NEEDED OFF 12 NOW.

FOUR! Crunched! Full toss outside off, Iyer thumps it to long on.

After 17 overs,India 139/4 ( Suryakumar Yadav 26 , Venkatesh Iyer 9)

It was turning out to be a good over before Cottrell bowled a couple of poor deliveries and it turned the tide in India’s favour. After three singles from four balls, Cottrell goes full and wide, Suryakumar smackes it for FOUR through covers and then hammers the next one, a short and slower ball down the leg side, for a SIX over fine leg. 13 off the over. 19 needed off 18 now.

SIX! Slower and short down the leg side. Poor, poor ball. Suryakumar waits and pulls it over fine leg for a SIX.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Full and wide outside off, it’s the slower one, Suryakumar smacks it through covers, it races away.

After 16 overs,India 126/4 ( Suryakumar Yadav 15 , Venkatesh Iyer 7)

Shepherd was a bit erratic in that over. He varied his pace well though. Starts off with a couple of dots. But then bowls a WIDE outside off. Suryakumar then takes a single to long on. Another two singles follow. And then another WIDE outside off. Iyer takes a single off the last ball to make it 6 off the over. 32 needed off 24!

After 15 overs,India 120/4 ( Suryakumar Yadav 13 , Venkatesh Iyer 5)

West Indies get the wicket of Pant but the runs are still coming. 8 runs off the Cottrell over. After a dot, Pant took a couple before departing off the third ball. Iyer got off the mark with a FOUR. And the next two balls yielded two singles. India need 38 off 30.

FOUR! Poor ball! Cottrell drifts it down the leg side, Venkatesh Iyer pulls it fine to fine leg.

OUT! Pant departs! Cottrell gets the salute celebration going. Good length delivery outside off, Pant shuffles and looks to flick it over fine leg, doesn’t connect it off the middle at all and helps it straight into the hands of the short fine leg fielder.

46 needed off 36 balls!

After 14 overs,India 112/3 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 6 , Suryakumar Yadav 12)

Good stuff from the Indian batters and good bit of running from Suryakumar Yadav and Pant. They take a quick couple of twos off the first two balls. The third one is a dot but then Smith, who was bowling very full, goes short and Suryakumar upper cuts it over the keeper for a FOUR. The last one is a full toss but Suryakumar hits it straight to extra cover. 9 runs off it.

After 13 overs,India 103/3 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 1 , Suryakumar Yadav 8)

A mixed over from Allen. After a couple of singles, he got the wicket of Kohli but then conceded two fours off the next two balls to Suryakumar. 10 runs off the over. India need 55 off 42.

FOURS! Suryakumar rocks back and cuts it through backward point, off Allen. He then flicks one wide of short fine leg for back to back fours.

OUT! Kohli departs now. Allen has him caught at long off. It’s a tossed up delivery outside off, Kohli takes a couple of steps down the track and looks to loft, doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight to Pollard at long off.

After 12 overs,India 93/2 ( Virat Kohli 16 , Rishabh Pant (W) 0)

Good stuff from Chase. He changes pace well, his faster ones at over 100 kmph. India deal in just singles. And Chase caps off the over with the wicket of Kishan at a crucial juncture. Chase finishes with fantastic figures of 4-0-14-2.

OUT! Chase gets the wicket of set Kishan who pulls it straight to deep mid-wicket. Short outside off, Kishan rocks back for a pull, doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight into the hands of the fielder. He struggled to get going and now perishes.

After 11 overs,India 89/1 ( Ishan Kishan 33 , Virat Kohli 14)

Kohli showing first signs of aggression. After a single off the first ball from Kishan, Kohli lofts one to long off for a FOUR. The rest four balls yield  four singles. 9 runs off the over.

FOUR! Nicely done by Kohli. Charges down and lofts it to long off, off Hosein.

After 10 overs,India 80/1 ( Ishan Kishan 30 , Virat Kohli 8)

Another good over from Chase. A heart in mouth moment for India off the first ball, Kishan is hit on the pads, there is an appeal but the umpire turns it down, then there is a mix up as they looks to run a single, Kohli stops mid way and sends Kishan back, the fielder throws at the wrong end – the bowler’s and not the keeper. After a couple of singles, Kishan lofts one over extra cover for a FOUR. The next one, Kishan looks to cut but misses. A single off the last ball to long of fmakes it 7 off the over.

FOUR! Great placement. Lofts it over extra cover, off Chase.

After 9 overs,India 73/1 ( Ishan Kishan 24 , Virat Kohli 7)

Runs coming in singles and twos but still a decent over for India. 8 runs in that over. Kishan has gone a but quiet. He’s 24 from 30 balls, striking at 80 per 100 balls. India need 85 from 66.

After 8 overs,India 65/1 ( Ishan Kishan 23 , Virat Kohli 1)

Brilliant from Chase. He’s brought some control in bowling and been creating the pressure. And he’s rewarded as well. Good change of pace and tight lines. He got Rohit in that over and gave away just two singles.

OUT! Chase finally breaks the opening stand. Rohit holes out to deep mid-wicket. Fantastic catch from Odean Smith. Tossed up outside off, Rohit goes for a heave, doesn’t connect it well and holes out to deep mid-wicket where Smith does well to keep his balance and hold on to the catch.

Chase continues…

After 7 overs,India 63/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 40 , Ishan Kishan 22)

A good comeback from Hosein. He was disciplined, got his lengths right and gave away just five singles in the over.

After 6 overs,India 58/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 38 , Ishan Kishan 19)

A good over from Chase, he varied his pace well and got some turn as well. There was a play and a miss from Kishan. The last one zips through, a straighter one and beats Rohit’s outside edge. Just a single off the over. A very good powerplay for India though – 58/0

Roston Chase into the attack now.

After 5 overs,India 57/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 38 , Ishan Kishan 18)

The 50-stand is up as Rohit and Kishan attack and get India off to a filer. Kishan takes on Hosein off the second ball and slog sweeps it for a FOUR before whipping one for another off the next ball. After a single and a dot, Rohit joins the party as he slog sweeps one behind square leg for a FOUR. 13 off the over.

FOUR! It’s Rohit’s turn now as he gets down and slog sweeps it behind square leg.

FOURS! Hosein into the attack, Kishan gets down second ball and slog sweep it over mid-wicket for FOUR. He then whips a short one through backward square leg for back to back FOURS.

After 4 overs,India 44/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 34 , Ishan Kishan 9)

Another big over for India. 4 1 1 6 4 6

Rohit takes on Odean Smith and hits 22 off the over. India off to a flier. Rohit looks in great touch. A nonchalant flick for FOUR. A top edged SIX. A lofted FOUR and then middled pull six. 22 off the over.

FOUR and SIX! Nicely done. Risky but effective. Rohit lofts it wide of mid off, off a full ball from Smith. He then drops short and Rohit smacks a pull over deep square leg

SIX! Top edge! A bouncer from Smith, Rohit goes for a pull but there is bounce and pace in that delivery, Rohit gets a top edge over the keeper and it flies over the cameraman.

FOUR! What timing! On the pads, Rohit flicks it nonchalantly and it just races away.

After 3 overs,India 22/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 13 , Ishan Kishan 8)

Good over for India. Cottrell still getting nice shape. He how ever misses his lengths a couple of times and gets punished. Kishan pokes at one and misses as it zips away. But Rohit pulls one for FOUR and Kishan cuts a wide one through point for second four of the over. 11 off it.

FOUR! Width offered by Cottrell, Kishan cuts it through point.

FOUR! Poor delivery! Short outside off, Rohit pulls it to long leg where the fielder tries hard but doesn’t stop it.

After 2 overs,India 11/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 8 , Ishan Kishan 3)

Shepherd starts off well but errs in line off the last ball and gets hit for a SIX. He got a bit of away shape and was disciplined with his lines off the first five balls. After two singles off the first four balls, Rohit comes down the track and looks to attack but mistimes it to mid on but off the final ball, Shepherd drifts it onto Rohit’s pads and he flicks it over deep square leg for a SIX. 8 runs off the over.

SIX! Effortless! On the pads, Rohit flicks it effortlessly over deep square leg.

Romario Shepherd will bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs,India 3/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 1 , Ishan Kishan 2)

​A good start from Cottrell. A bit of swing straightaway fro Cottrell. The first one is on middle and swinging in, Rohit flicks it but it goes off the inner half of the bat uppishly to fine leg for just a single. After three dots in a row, Kishan guides one wide of third man for a couple. The last one zips away from a back of a length, Kishan pokes and misses. Just 3 runs off the first over.

Back for the chase. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan are the openers. Sheldon Cottrell will start off proceedings.

There is a lot of dew on the field and the groundsmen are hard at work.

In short: India restrict West Indies to 157/7. Pooran the top scorer for WI with 61 off 43 balls. Bishnoi impressive on debut with figures of 4-0-17-2.

After 20 overs,West Indies 157/7 ( Kieron Pollard (C) 24 , )

West Indies post 157/7. Another over where the bowler bounces back well after being hit for a boundary first ball. Harshal drops the first one short and gets hit for a FOUR by Pollard. He however corrects his lengths and gives away just six more runs off the next five balls and takes a wicket as well. 10 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Brilliant catch from Rohit. Slower one from Harshal, Smith miscues one in the air and Rohit at cover takes a good diving catch.

FOUR! Short from Harshal, Pollard pulls it to long leg.

After 19 overs,West Indies 147/6 ( Kieron Pollard (C) 18 , Odean Smith 1)

Bhuvneshwar bounces back well after six off the first ball. Pollard starts the over well, smacks a slower one over deep mid-wicket for a HUGE six. He goes for another but mistimes it and it falls short of the mid wicket fielder. The next one is a WIDE and then Pollard swings and misses. Pollard smacks a pull off the next one but it goes straight to the square leg fielder. Chahar stationed there did well to field it but in process got hurt. The last two balls yield just two singles. The last one was short and Pollard mistimes his pull to long on. 12 runs off the over.

SIX! HUGE! Pollard swings it across the line, off Bhuvneshwar and connects it sweetly as it sails way into the stands.

After 18 overs,West Indies 135/6 ( Kieron Pollard (C) 8 , Odean Smith 0)

Good comeback in that over from Harshal. After a single, Pooran smacks one over long on for a SIX. Harshal slips one down the leg side for a WIDE next. The next is a full toss but Pooran smashes it straight to the deep cover fielder. Pollard takes a single off the next ball. The next one is short, Pooran misses his pull and gets hit on the body. The slower ball does the trick again off the next ball as Pooran is caught at long off. 10 runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Harshal sends back the dangerous Pooran who is caught at long off, off the slower delivery. It’s the slower ball outside off, Pooran looks to hit it over long off, doesn’t connect it off the middle as he is done in by the slower one and helps it straight into the hands of the long off fielder.

SIX! He’s connected that well! Slower one outside off, Pooran stays in his crease and smashes it over long on.

Harshal Patel back on…

FOUR! Poor fielding. Pollard hits it powerfully to long on where Venkatesh Iyer makes a mess of it and lets it through.

FIFTY for Pooran! FOUR! Nicely done. Gets back and cuts it through point, he hit that close to his body.

SIX! Thumped! Flighted on middle, Pooran gets down and heaves it over deep mid-wicket.

After 16 overs,West Indies 108/5 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 43 , Kieron Pollard (C) 1)

An eventful over. Pooran looks to go over long on, doesn’t connect it off the middle and it falls short of Kohli at long on. There is a HUGE LBW appeal, the umpire says no but Rohit opts for review, replays showever showed impact was umpire’s call. There are FIVE overthrows as they run through for a quick single and Rohit misses his direct his with a powerful throw. Bishnoi then bowls it wide and Pooran smacks it over extra cover for FOUR. Pooran looks to cut the next one but misses and then hits one uppishly just wide of the bowler to long on for a single. 12 runs off the over.

FOUR! A touch wide outside off, Pooran smashes it over extra cover.

NOT OUT! A googly outside off, spins back in. Pollard comes forward and plays a half-hearted tuck, misses it by a mile. They all go up in an appeal but the umpire turns it down. Rohit opts for a review but replays show impact was umpire’s call. It was hitting the stumps though.

Bishnoi back on…

After 15 overs,West Indies 96/5 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 37 , Kieron Pollard (C) 1)

A good mix of leggies and googlies in that over. Pollard and Pooran were cautious and could get just two runs off it. Good variations of pace and spin. Lovely over.

Chahal back into the attack now….

After 14 overs,West Indies 94/5 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 36 , Kieron Pollard (C) 0)

A mixed over from Chahar. After a single off the first ball, Hosein clears his front foot and smashes one over long on for a SIX. Chahar bounces back well and gives just two singles off the next two balls and gets the wicket of Hosein. The last one is short and Pooran smashes a pull through mid-wicket for FOUR. 13 runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Chahar has the last laugh as he sends back Hosein. Bouncer outside off, Hosein goes deep in his crease for a pull but ends up getting a top edge, Chahar runs to his left, settles under it and takes a very good catch.

SIX! A touch short outside off from Chahar, Hoesin shasmes it over long on by clearing his front leg.

Chahar back into the attack now.

After 13 overs,West Indies 81/4 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 30 , Akeal Hosein 3)

Frugal over from Bishnoi. An over filled with googlies. It’s his stock ball. Windies not taking risks right now. Bishnoi drops one very short, Hosein looked to pull one but misses, another zipping googly zips past Hosein’s outside edge as he looks to cut. Just two singles and a WIDE in that over.

Bishnoi continues…

After 12 overs,West Indies 78/4 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 29 , Akeal Hosein 2)

A good over from Venkatesh Iyer and good thinking from Rohit to bring on his 6th bowler with two quick wickets fallen. The Windies deal in just singles and there are only four of them. Just four off the over.

Venkatesh Iyer into the attack now…

After 11 overs,West Indies 74/4 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 27 , Akeal Hosein 0)

Bishnoi had found it a tad tougher to control his line. His googlies had been a little leg sidish. However he gets a couple right, one traps Chase LBW and the other has Powell caught at long on. 3 runs and two wickets off the over. West Indies are put on the back foot here.

OUT! Bishnoi gets second in the over. The dangerous Rovman Powell departs. It’s a googly outside off, slightly flighted. Powell looks to swing it over long on, doesn’t connect it off the middle and helps straight into the hands of the fielder.

OUT! Bishnoi gets his maiden international wicket. Chase is trapped LBW. He reviews but replays show it’s hitting leg, all three reds. It’s a quicker one outside off, a googly, Chase comes forward and looks to turn it to the leg side but misses as it spins back in. The umpire lifs his finger straightaway.

Bishnoi back on…

After 10 overs,West Indies 71/2 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 27 , Roston Chase 4)

A mixed over from Harshal. He varied his pace, however missed his lines and lengths a touch. He beats the inside edge of Chase of an off cutter, off the first ball. Chase drives one to cover for a couple before taking a single. The next one is short and Pooran swings it to deep backward square leg for a FOUR! After a dot, he bowls a WIDE outside off. And then bowls another one wide, this time inside the guideline, Pooran cuts it hard but straight to point. 8 runs off the over.

FOUR! Short from Harshal, Pooran swings it over backward square leg.

Harshal Patel back on…

After 9 overs,West Indies 63/2 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 23 , Roston Chase 1)

Another good over from Chahal despite the last ball going for a six. There were a couple of big LBW shouts and India lose a review off one of them where Chase misses his lap sweep. Chahal is disciplined throughout but errs in length off the last ball, it’s short and Pooran hammers it over deep square leg for a SIX! 8 runs off the over.

SIX! hammered! Short from Chahal, Pooran pulls it over deep square leg.

NOT OUT! Review lost! An appeal for an LBW as Chase gets down for a lap sweep but misses. Rohit opts for a review but replays shows it’s missing off.

After 8 overs,West Indies 55/2 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 16 , Roston Chase 0)

Bishnoi starts with very quick leggies. He misses his line off one ball and is called WIDE. Pooran plays and misses a couple. Bishnoi then bowls his trademark googly which beats Pooran’s outside edge. He then takes a single to long off. The next one is a WIDE down the leg side, another googly again to chase. There is a huge appeal for a caught behind and then a stumping next up but with all the drama it’s neither a caught behind nor a stumping and nor a WIDE as it flicked Pooran’s pads. The last one is a DOT. 4 runs off he over.

NOT OUT! Bishoni bowls a googy, Chase shuffles and looks to flick but misses. Bishnoi goes up in a HUGE appeal for a caught behind. There is an appeal for stumping as well. The umpire turns down the caught behind appeal and signals a WIDE! They all get together and decide to review it. Replays show it had flicked his pads. And also his foot was behind the popping crease. Rohit’s review wasn’t taken into account as the umpire’s went upstairs to check the stumping and it involves all the checks that are there in DRS. No caught behind. No stumping and No review loss for India.

Debutant Ravi Bishnoi into the attack now.

After 7 overs,West Indies 51/2 ( Nicholas Pooran (W) 15 , Roston Chase 0)

A successful over for India. Chahal got the wicket of Mayers. He could have had the wicket of Pooran off the first ball but debutant Bishnoi made an error as he stepped on the ropes after catching it at long on. 7 runs and a wicket for Chahal. He got a bit of drift  and was disciplined.

OUT! Chahal traps Mayers LBW! Mayers reviews but it’s an umpires call and the umpire had given him out.

Mayers goes down for a slog sweep but misses a straight one from Chahal. It hits his back pad. The umpire lifts his finger after some thought on the appeal. Mayers reviews but it is clipping off and umpires call.

SIX! Oh dear! Bishnoi catches Pooran but ends up stepping on the ropes. Pooran looks to take on Chahal first up and looks to go downtown but doesn’t connect it. Bishoni catches it at long on but ends up stepping on the rope as the force takes him back.

Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack now…

After 6 overs,West Indies 44/1 ( Kyle Mayers 31 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 8)

A decent Powerplay for West Indies. Harshal starts off with a couple of slower ones and gives away just one run. He then drops it short and Mayers thumps it to long leg for a FOUR!. The next one is a slower one again, Mayers looks to dab but misses. He then swings across the line and gets an outside edge over the slip for a streaky FOUR. The alst one is a dot. 9 runs off the over a good one for WI!

FOUR! Edgy!  Mayers looks to swing across the line, it’s a slower one from Harshal but Mayers ends up getting an outside edge over the slip.

FOUR! Short from Harshal, Mayers shuffles across, walks a couple of steps down and pulls it to long leg.

Harshal Patel into the attack now.

After 5 overs,West Indies 35/1 ( Kyle Mayers 23 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 7)

A good over for the Windies! After a dot, Mayers smashes a pull over mid-wicket for a FOUR. He then plays the pick up shot powerfully to deep square leg where Harshal Patel fields well and saves two runs. Mayers then crashes one through cover-point for another FOUR. Bhuvi then smartly bowls a slower one and Mayers has to defend it. He then walks down but Bhuvi pushes it wide and Mayers dabs it to short third man. A dot to end the over. 10 runs off the over.

FOUR! 2nd of the over. Crashed! Mayers charges down and thumps it through cover-point.

FOUR! Short from Bhuvneshwar, Mayers pulls it over mid-wicket.

After 4 overs,West Indies 25/1 ( Kyle Mayers 13 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 7)

An eventful over. A couple of shots drop short of the fielder. Lucky escapes for both Pooran and Mayers. Chahar angles one away from Mayers first up, he plays and misses. The next one is a bouncer, Mayers goes for a pull but again misses. Mayers then comes down the track and flicks one uppishly off a knuckle ball, catch it is the shout, it’s in the air but it falls short of the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Pooran then looks to go over mid off but doesn’t connect it off the middle, it falls short of that fielder at mid off. Chahar then errs in length, drops a touch short, Pooran hammers it over deep mid-wicket for a SIX. Chahar ends with a dot. A good over from Chahar. 7 off it.

SIX! Absolutely smashed! A touch short, Pooran plunders it over deep mid-wicket.

After 3 overs,West Indies 18/1 ( Kyle Mayers 12, Nicholas Pooran (W) 1)

A decent over from Bhuvneshwar. He bowled a slower one as well and brought the ball back into the batters. There was one ball where he erred and dropped short, Mayers hammered it over mid-wicket for a FOUR. Bhuvneshwar then ended the over beating the inside edge of Pooran. 6 runs off the over.

FOUR! Short from Bhuvneshwar, Mayers pulls it over mid-wicket.

After 2 overs,West Indies 12/1 ( Kyle Mayers 8 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 0)

Chahar also gets some movement in the air. Mayers looked to attack almost every ball. There was one mishit which raced away for FOUR through the leg side but then there are a couple of plays and misses as he looked to hit hard through the off side. Off the last ball, Mayers goes hard and gets an inside edge to the leg side for another FOUR not off the middle. 8 runs off the over.

FOUR! Another one that doesn’t connect off the middle. Mayers takes a couple of steps down the track and looks to go hard, gets an inside edge to the leg side and it races away to the fence.

FOUR! Not quite off the middle. It’s a length delivery outside off,swinging in, Mayers looks to hit through the off side but gets an inside edge through mid-wicket for a four.

After 1 overs,West Indies 4/1 ( Kyle Mayers 0 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 0)

Brilliant start from Bhuvneshwar! Swing straightaway for Bhuvneshwar. He bowls a lovely  outswinger to start off, King looks to drive but misses. Bhuvneshwar then misses his marker next ball, delivers it a touch wide, King smashes it through point for FOUR. Bhuvneshwar hit back with a couple of outswingers, King defends one and is beaten on the other as there is bounce and movement. Bhuvi then gets his man as he has him caught at backward point. Pooran leaves the last ball alone. 4 runs and a wicket off the first over.

OUT! Bhuvneshwar strikes in the first over. Brandon King is caught at backward point. Bhuvi bowls another outswinger, King walks down the track to negate the swing, but there is still enough movement away. King pushes away from the body and helps it straight into the hands of the backward point fielder. There was a slight outside edge on that shot.

FOUR! Smashed! A bit of width offered by Bhuvneshwar, King smashes it through point. It races away.

The West Indies openers Kyle Mayers and Brandon King are out in the middle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will start off proceedings.

The teams are out for the national anthems!

Who is Ravi Bishnoi?

Special day for the youngster!

Ravi Bishnoi is making his T20I debut for India in the first #INDvWI match at Eden Gardens. pic.twitter.com/jmKki10N3U

— ICC (@ICC) February 16, 2022

West Indies XI: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Odean Smith, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell

India XI: Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi (debut), Yuzvendra Chahal

Team news: Ravi Bishnoi has been handed his international debut. 

Rohit confirms Ishan Kishan will open the batting along side him and India go in with 5 batters, 1 all rounder, 2 leg spinners and three pacers.

TOSS – Rohit wins the toss and India will bowl first.

Head to head: West Indies have historically done well in this format. They however haven’t had a good record against India. They have lost 10 of the 17 T20Is with one ending in No Result. In India, they have won just two of the seven matches and lost five. India have won the last three T20I series played between the two sides.

Pitch report: Looks like a good pitch, it’s firm and looks good for batting. The pitch may slow down and the slower balls from pacers might come into play and the spinners also might come into play. It’s a chasing ground and whoever wins the toss would want to field first. The dew generally forms around 8 pm and teams will have to keep that in mind as well.

India will have one eye on that No 1 ranking!

If India can win the forthcoming T20I series against the West Indies 3-0, they will become the ICC #1 ranked T20I side on 20 Feb 2022.#IndvWI #IndvsWI #WIvsIND #WIvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 15, 2022

In case you missed it: Kolkata Knight Riders have named Shreyas Iyer as their captain.

The injuries to key personnel and rest to senior players opens up the door for the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, debutants Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan and Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Ishan Kishan to get some game time in the international arena, learn and strengthen their cases for T20 World Cup. There is intense competition for places and these players would look to make the most of the limited opportunities.

India have been hit by injuries in the build up to the series with KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel ruled out. This is a chance for the relative newcomers and debutants to stake a claim for the T20 World Cup and allows India to test their bench strength along with one eye towards plugging the holes.

The excitement is building!

All set for the T20Is ✅

LIVE action starts in a few hours! ⏳#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @Paytm pic.twitter.com/w9zFRbGS8I

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2022

The IPL auctions are done and dusted. The focus now shifts on the field as India take on West Indies in the three-match T20I series. Teams would be looking to get their focus back on the field and leave the emotions off it. West Indies would be looking to bounce back after a 0-3 loss in the ODI series. India, on the other hand, would be looking to  carry forward the momentum and look for a positive start. Windies have an explosive T20I side and expect them to give India a tough time in the T20Is and we can expect a cracking series.

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the 1st T20I between India and West Indies in Kolkata. Match starts at 7 pm IST with the toss taking place at 6.30 pm. Follow this space for live scores and updates.