1st T20I Preview: Rohit Sharma-Led Formidable India Eye ODI Encore vs West Indies

28.07.2022 - 16:07 sports.ndtv.com

A full-strength Indian team in all its might will be looking to overwhelm West Indies in its bid to record a second successive clean sweep in the three-match T20I series starting Friday.

With less than three months left for the T20 World Cup, skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid will get around 16 games (5 vs WI, 5 in Asia Cup (if India play final), 3 vs Australia, 3 vs South Africa) to firm up their core team that will then play unchanged going into mega event.

The mere thought of a first eleven comprising Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik as the five specialists batters in the top six can have an intimidating as well as debilitating effect on the opposition.

And that too at a time when a player of Virat Kohli's stature has been failimg miserably in shortest format and doubts are being cast about his place in the playing XI.

cricket West Indies Cricket Team 2022 Rohit Sharma Rahul Dravid Usa Australia South Africa Ireland India

Odean Smith improved on his career-best T20I bowling figures for the third time in four matches as the fast bowling all-rounder claimed three for 29.

"Those Little Efforts From Us..." Rohit Sharma Addresses Team India After Win In T20I Series Vs WI

Team India is in brimming with confidence after they clinched the five-match T20I series against West Indies with 4-1 margin. The team thrashed the hosts in the fifth and final match by 88 runs on Sunday at Lauderhill, Florida. India have now won six of their last seven T20I series. Skipper Rohit Sharma was rested from the final T20I match and Hardik Pandya took Team India's charge and led them to a prestigious win. Rohit addressed the team after claiming the series and acknowledged every player for their combined efforts.

Watch: Rohit Sharma Rides Golf Cart After T20I Series Win vs West Indies, Video Goes Viral

After claiming an 88-run victory in the fifth and final T20I of the five-match series against West Indies on Sunday, Team India wrapped up the series with a 4-1 margin in the T20Is, having previously won the ODI series 3-0. The Rohit Sharma-led side completely dominated the hosts with their fabulous all-round performance. In the absence of the senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Team India found a new hero in Arshdeep Singh, who scalped seven wickets and bagged the Player of the Series award. The T20Is against West Indies gave many memorable moments to the fans and one such moment was when skipper Rohit Sharma was seen riding a golf cart in the stadium after winning the series.

India vs West Indies, 4th T20I Highlights: Rohit Sharma's India ensures another series win after beating West Indies by 59 runs

Rohit Sharma maintained his unbeaten record as captain in bilateral T20Is after India made short work of West Indies by 59 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series here on Saturday. It was a perfect weekend for the NRIs in and around Florida, as India first scored 191 for 5 with useful knocks from Rishabh Pant (44 off 31 balls) and skipper Rohit Sharma (33 off 16 balls), and a cameo from Axar Patel (20 not out off 8 balls). On a ground where the highest successful run-chase by any team is 98, a target of 192 was simply out of question, and the West Indies innings folded for a lowly 132 in 19.1 overs. As It Happened

India vs West Indies, 4th T20I Live Updates: Focus On Rohit Sharma's Fitness As India Face West Indies

IND vs WI, 4th T20I Live Updates: India take on West Indies in the fourth T20I of the five-match series at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida. India eye an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, ahead of the final game at the same venue on Sunday. India captain Rohit Sharma's participation is still in doubt after he had to be retired due to a back spasm during India's innings in the last match. West Indies, on the other hand, eye a comeback as they look to take the series to the decider. (LIVE SCORECARD)

India vs West Indies, 4th T20I, India's Predicted XI: Will Sanju Samson Get A Go?

Team India led by Rohit Sharma will look to gain an unassailable lead in the five-match series when they take on West Indies in the fourth T20I on Saturday in Florida. The visitors currently have a 2-1 lead after having won the third match by seven wickets. Suryakumar Yadav was the star of the show as he played a knock of 76. Rohit Sharma retired hurt midway due to back spasms while Shreyas Iyer's form is a huge concern in the shortest format. So it would be interesting to see whether the visitors make any changes to their playing XI for the fourth T20I.