The inaugural T20 match between India and West Indies for the 2023 tour is set to take place on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023, at the renowned Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.

After asserting their dominance in the test and ODI series, India now prepares to take on the West Indies in a thrilling five-match T20 series. Both teams have a fondness for the shorter format of cricket, making this upcoming match even more intriguing. Anticipate significant alterations in the squad compositions of both sides for this T20 series. Notably, the West Indies managed only one victory in the ODI and test series, but hopes are high for improved performances from the home team in this T20 series. Excitement is in the air as we look forward to witnessing some intense battles on the cricket field.

West Indies has left its fans, especially the home crowd, disappointed with their performance in this series, reflecting the major issues plaguing their cricket for the past two years. Failing to qualify for the ICC ODI World Cup has been a significant setback, and their performance at home has been one of their worst showings. In a bid to turn things around, Rovman Powell has taken charge of the team, replacing Shai Hope as the captain for the five-match T20 series. Although Shai Hope is not leading the team, he remains an integral part of the squad for this series.

Shai Hope makes a much-anticipated return to the T20 team after being absent in previous series, and he will be joined by Shimron Hetmeyer, adding strength to the West Indies’ lineup. Shimron Hetmeyer has been actively playing cricket and is currently in good form. With an impressive record in home conditions, his role will be pivotal in this series. Notably, Shimron Hetmeyer was absent from the team for over a year. The likes of Nicolas Pooran, Johnson Charles, and Jason Holder are also expected to play crucial roles in the upcoming matches.

Although Yannic Carriah performed well as part of the ODI team, he won’t be part of the T20 squad as Akeal Hosein takes his place. Odean Smith and Obed McCoy are key bowlers for the West Indies in this series, aiming to make a significant impact on the team’s performance. As the series unfolds, all eyes will be on these players, hoping to witness an improved showing from the West Indies’ side.

India’s performance in the West Indies tour has been truly outstanding, setting the stage for the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced a challenging task in selecting the best playing eleven for these crucial tournaments. Notably, Hardik Pandya will continue to lead India’s T20 team as the regular captain in the series of five T20 matches.

However, the management of Team India made some surprising decisions during squad selection, opting to drop key players like Jaydev Unadkat, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.

This series will see the emergence of new and young faces in the Indian team. Ravi Bishnoi has been added to reinforce the bowling unit, particularly in the spin department. Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan will be spearheading India’s bowling attack, supported by Umran Malik and Mukesh Kumar.

The batting order will be entrusted to Ishan Kishan, alongside Sanju Samson, Shubhman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who showcased remarkable performances in the recent IPL and impressed in his maiden test match, is expected to make his T20 debut in this series. Likewise, Tilak Varma’s strong performances have earned him a place in the T20 team, and it is anticipated that he will feature in the matches as well.

With this mix of seasoned players and promising talents, Team India aims to demonstrate its prowess and potential in the upcoming T20 series, ensuring an exciting and competitive spectacle on the cricket field.

As of now, West Indies has participated in a total of 179 T20 matches. Out of these, they emerged victorious in 75 matches, while other teams secured 95 wins against them. Additionally, there were 10 matches that resulted in no outcome.

As of the current moment, India has competed in 199 T20 International matches, achieving an impressive 130 victories. However, they have also faced defeat in 63 matches. Along the way, there were 5 matches with no conclusive result, and one match ended in a tie.

In the head-to-head T20 encounters between West Indies and India, a total of 25 matches have been played. Out of these, West Indies secured victory in 7 matches, while India emerged triumphant in 17 matches. Additionally, there was one match between these two teams that ended without a decisive result.

As per match predictions, India holds the status of being the favorite team to win this match, supported by the following reasons:

1. India has displayed outstanding performances throughout the tour of the West Indies.
2. India boasts a superior track record in T20 matches against West Indies, with more victories.
3. The Indian team possesses a strong and well-balanced batting and bowling unit compared to West Indies.
4. India has emerged victorious in nine out of the ten most recent matches against West Indies.
5. West Indies faces a dearth of experienced spin bowlers, while India has some of the best bowlers in their squad.

With these factors in their favor, India is expected to be the front-runner in the upcoming match against West Indies.

India holds a significant advantage in today’s match due to their robust batting order and bowling unit, coupled with the advantage of playing in their home conditions. The equation of winning chances for both teams is as follows:

India has a 70% probability of winning this match,
while West Indies has a 30% probability of winning.

The toss is expected to carry significant weight in determining the outcome of this match. As per the toss prediction, the team winning the toss might opt to bat first.

The opening T20 encounter between West Indies and India is scheduled to take place at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad. The pitch at this venue is known for its excellent batting conditions. With short boundaries, the spinners will have a crucial role to play. The pitch is likely to remain batsmen-friendly throughout the match. A competitive total of around 280 runs can be considered defendable in these conditions.

The weather forecast for match day in Trinidad is not very promising for a cricket match. There is a possibility of rain, which could lead to interruptions during the game.

West Indies: Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (c), Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas.

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma/Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

Captain: Shubman Gill
Vice-Captain: Nicholas Pooran
Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Axar Patel, Kyle Mayers, Kuldeep Yadav, Romario Shepherd

• Date: Thursday, 3rd August 2023
• Time: 02:30 PM GMT / 10:30 AM LOCAL / 08:00 PM IST

• Stadium: Brian Lara Stadium
• Location: Tarouba, Trinidad, West Indies
• Opened: 2007
• Capacity: 15000
• Time Zone: UTC -04:00
• Floodlights: Yes

• Total matches: 4
• Matches won batting first: 1
• Matches won bowling first: 3
• Average 1st Inns scores: 145
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 129
• Highest total recorded: 190/6 (20 Ov) by IND vs WI
• The highest score chased: 156/7 (19.5 Ov) by RSAW vs WIW
• The lowest score defended: 190/6 (20 Ov) by IND vs WI

Rovman Powell (c), Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Brandon King, Odean Smith, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd.