The tension was palpable as West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and chose to bat first in the third game of the gripping five-match T20I series against India at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Tuesday. With the hosts currently holding a 2-0 lead in the series, this match presents an opportunity for them to secure victory with two games to spare, while India seeks to turn the tide and keep their hopes alive.
Adding to the excitement, young cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal was awarded his T20I cap, marking his debut for the Indian team in this format as they go head-to-head against the West Indies. Speaking during the toss, Captain Rovman Powell acknowledged the challenging wicket conditions, “We’ll bat first. Looks a little slow wicket. Holder in the last game picked up a niggle to his knee. He misses out, Chase comes in. Guys are excited, we are on the doorstep of history. They have such quality players, have to keep them on their toes. If you become predictable, they will destroy you.”
On the other side, Indian skipper Hardik Pandya expressed his thoughts, “Don’t mind chasing. Obviously would’ve preferred to bat looking at the surface. Might get slower. It is what it is. Pooran has been batting very well. Would like to keep things simple to him, rather than trying a lot of things. Two changes, Yashasvi makes his debut, Kuldeep comes in for Bishnoi. Ishan misses out.”
The teams’ line-ups showcased the depth of talent on both sides:
West Indies Playing XI: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran(w), Rovman Powell(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy.
India Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Sanju Samson(w), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mukesh Kumar.
As the match unfolds, both teams are poised for an intense battle on the field, with West Indies aiming to secure their series victory and India fighting to make a comeback. The outcome of this crucial T20I could be a turning point that defines the trajectory of the series.
