India vs West Indies 1st T20I tip-off XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal to make his T20I debut, Arshdeep Singh back in the mix and Sanju Samson to keep his spot | Cricket News

Less than 48 hours after their ODI series triumph, India will switch to T20 mode, again as favourites against the West Indies in a five-match series starting at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba in Trinidad from Thursday. The T20 leg will provide an ideal platform for youngsters to express themselves.
In the recently concluded 50-over series that had some context in the year of the ODI World Cup, India emerged victorious 2-1 after a shock defeat in the second match, and the fancied visitors will have their tails up in the T20 series, too.
As far as the West Indies are concerned, they are coming into the series on the back of defeats in the Test and ODI series and will also find it challenging in the slam-bang format, their strongest suit. Wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope and fast bowler Oshane Thomas have been recalled to strengthen the 15-member West Indies team led Rovman Powell.
Yashasvi Jaiswal to make his T20I debut
The left-hander has been in stunning form this year. The youngster is going through a purple patch. He already proved in the tour’s red-ball leg that he is ready for international cricket. Earlier this year in IPL, he showed his ball-striking ability. In the Powerplay, he was brutal against the bowlers and post the first six overs, he rotated the strike against the spinners with ease and made match-winning contributions.

📸🤝
T20I mode 🔛#TeamIndia | #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/Ftpp4AINGI
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 3, 2023
Arshdeep Singh back in the mix
The left-arm seamer is one of the exciting talents coming up in the Indian fast bowling department. Though he is yet to play in longer versions of the game in T20I cricket, he already showed what he is capable of. His ability to swing the new ball and be lethal with yorkers at the death are his significant strengths and make him difficult to play against.
Sanju Samson to keep his spot
The elegant batter has made his case to stay in the side scoring a handy fifty in the final ODI at the same venue. The five-match T20I series may not be an ideal audition for him to get himself into the ODI World Cup squad but runs in the series here can make him a strong contender. Though he is pleasing to the eye, inconsency has been a major issue. This series will give him the ideal opportunity to prove his consency.

India Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
West Indies Predicted XI: Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (c), Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas.
Squads
West Indies Squad: Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran(w), Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell(c), Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Brandon King, Odean Smith, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Varma