NAT ANDREAE selects a combined XI ahead of the five-match T20I series between West Indies and India
India's tour of the Caribbean is concluding with a five-match T20I series. Nat Andreae selects a combined XI...
Ishan Kishan
27 matches, 653 runs at 25.11, 122.74 strike rate, 4 half-centuries
Taking the gloves and opening the batting is Ishan Kishan. A stylish batter who has spent a lot of his career as Rohit Sharma's junior partner, he now has the chance to step out of the shadow of the India legend. Coming off the back of another strong IPL season (he finished inside the top-10 run-scorers) he will hope to continue a blossoming partnership with Shubman Gill. As a left-hander, he pairs nicely with right-handers Gill and Suryakumar Yadav in the top order.
Shubman Gill
6 matches, 202 runs at 40.40, 165.57 strike rate, 1 century
Perhaps the second-most nailed-on player in this XI (after Yadav), Gill will be hoping to continue his excellent scoring form with the bat. He heads into this series off the back of hitting a match-winning 126 not out against South Africa. It was no fluke either, with the youngster smashing 890 runs for Gujarat Titans in the 2023 IPL – only Virat Kohli (973 runs in 2016) has scored more runs in a single IPL campaign.
Suryakumar Yadav
48 matches, 1675 runs at 46.52, 175.76 strike rate, 3 centuries, 13 half-centuries
The ICC's No.1-ranked T20I batter, Yadav is coming into the series off the back of another highly impressive IPL season. A modern 360-degree player who has a variety of shots that it seems only he can hit (including a straight drive over third) there was never any doubt that he would make this XI. His strike rate – above 175 after 46 innings – should horrify a few West Indian bowlers.
Rovman Powell [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]
Rovman Powell
58 matches, 972 runs at 24.30, 138.64 strike rate, 1 century, 4 half-centuries; 5 wickets, 9.35 economy
On his day Powell hits the ball as hard as anyone else in the world. After being in and out of the squad for several years, the 30-year-old had a very good 2022, hitting a brutal maiden T20 century against England while striking above 200. Further impressive scores against India and Bangladesh followed. Expect fireworks.
Nicholas Pooran
75 matches, 1486 runs at 25.18, 130.92 strike rate, 9 half-centuries
The second left-handed batter in this side, Pooran provides flair and middle-order firepower – over 63 per cent of his T20I runs have come via boundaries. A staple of West Indies' white-ball plans, he warmed up for this series by representing MI New York in Major League Cricket, single-handedly winning the title for his side with a knock of 137 not out off 55 balls in the final.
Hardik Pandya (captain)
87 matches, 1271 runs at 25.42, 142.17 strike rate, 3 half-centuries; 69 wickets, 8.14 economy
Hardik Pandya has an enviable record as captain, leading Gujarat Titans to back-to-back IPL finals (winning in 2022) and boasting the highest win percentage of any Indian men's captain (minimum five T20Is in charge). Pandya is a booming finisher who can also bat up the order – he routinely comes in at No.4 in the IPL – and a bowling option.
Axar Patel
40 matches, 288 runs at 22.15, 152.38 strike rate, 1 half-century; 37 wickets, 7.48 economy
One of two spinners in this XI, his finger-spin can be relied upon to keep the middle overs tight. However, he's no slouch with the bat either and can be expected to chip in with important lower order runs. He struck 15 sixes and 21 fours in the 2023 IPL, remember.
Yuzvendra Chahal [Kerry Marshall/Getty Images]
Jason Holder
51 matches, 398 runs at 15.30, 121.43 strike rate; 53 wickets, 8.31 economy
One of the more experienced players in this side and a T20 World Cup winner, Holder is a wise head and a leader. He is the only West Indies bowler to take a T20I hat-trick and ripped through England in the Caribbean not so long ago, taking 15 wickets in five matches. His international statistics do not do him justice and he will be a key player for West Indies.
Yuzvendra Chahal
75 matches, 91 wickets, 8.13 economy
The primary spinner in this side, Chahal will be tasked with taking crucial middle-over wickets. Chahal backed up a superb 2022 IPL season with another 20-plus wicket season in 2023 and will be crucial to his side's chances of winning this series away from home. With 91 wickets, he is India's all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
Alzarri Joseph
12 matches, 22 wickets, 7.82 economy
Having taken a crucial 5 for 40 on a batting pitch at the Wanderers to win a deciding match for West Indies against South Africa, Joseph will be the primary pace bowler for his side. His T20I bowling average is an incredibly impressive 16.36 and he will be hoping to continue this form on home soil.
Arshdeep Singh
26 matches, 41 wickets, 8.39 economy
Providing a left-arm seam option Arshdeep Singh comes in at No.11. The 24-year-old opening bowler is a handful in the powerplay thanks to his prodigious swing and great control of the new ball. As a left-armer, he has a valuable point of difference and would complement the pace of Joseph nicely in this XI.
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