India vs West Indies, IND vs WI, Today Match Prediction 16 February 2022

ind vs win Match Prediction & Analysis

After a thumping 3-0 victory in the ODI series, India is set to take on the West Indies once again in the three-match T20I series. The first T20Is will be played at Eden Garden, Kolkata from 7:00 pm local time. After the massive success of the Indian Premier League’s Mega Auction, it will be interesting to see how players justify their big contracts. West Indies got a 5-day breather to prepare for their favourite format. An only full practice session before the start of the ODI series saw them going down miserably in all games. But now they won’t have any excuse. They played 5 T20Is in England this season and finished the series on the top with a 3-2 win over the hosts. Jason Holder was the player of the tournament with 15 wickets in 5 matches and 44 runs in the only innings he got a chance to play. He even became the first West Indian to claim a hat-trick by taking 4 wickets in 4 balls.

India on the other hand, last played against New Zealand in T20Is at home. They won the series 3-0 to add the fourth consecutive T20I series victory at home. Since the debacle of ICC World T20 in the UAE, India have six T20I victories in a row. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was the man of the tournament with 159 runs at a strike rate of 154.36. India have a great record against West Indies in the last ten T20Is. They have 8 victories, out of these 7 were in a row. The last time both teams met was in India in 2019. India won that series 2-1. Then Indian skipper Virat Kohli scored 183 runs at the same average and a strike rate of 190.62.     If both Sharma and Kohli find their touch at the same time, it will be a dead-end for the West Indies side to find a victory.
 

TEAMS PREVIEW

India Preview

India are set to miss three key players due to injuries. After KL Rahul and Axar Patel, Washington Sundar has now been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. But it doesn’t look like India will be in trouble. They have backups ready. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda have been added to the roaster. They have another problem - Who will open? Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Venkatesh Iyer, and now Rishabh Pant. It looks like Ishan Kishan who landed the biggest bid of 15.25 crore will open with Rohit Sharma. The righty-lefty combination will be ideal for India to go ahead with the preparation of the next T20Is World Cup. Eden Garden is Rohit Sharma’s favourite destination to score big runs. It's big jeopardy for the visitors to take his wicket.

Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav will take the third and fourth spots. Kohli had a bad series of scores in the ODI series. But you never underestimate the lion. Rishabh Pant might take the fifth spot and role behind the wickets. Ideally, it will be Venkatesh Iyer to come in the sixth position but the current form of Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur can force India to keep him out.

The Royal Challengers Banglore duo Mohammad Siraj and Harshal Patel will lead the pace attack. Harshal Patel was the leading wicket-taker in the last T20I series. India will find it difficult to play two spinners with Sundar getting sidelined. Both Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi bowl similar. Chahal will have an upper edge over the uncapped Bishnoi based on the experience.

Key Players: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Harshal Patel
 

India Predicted Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Venkatesh Iyer, Shardul Thakur/Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

India Actual Playing XI:

YS Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Ishan Kishan, SA Yadav, Virat Kohli, Deepak Chahar, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Rishabh Pant

West Indies Preview

West Indies players fetched a big money (INR. 44.4cr) in the IPL Mega auction. Will they manage to win the first T20I against India is still a million-dollar question? Skipper Kieron Pollard will lead the same squad from their last outing against England. Brandon King and Kyle Myres will open the innings. Both King and Myres provided a solid start in the last two T20Is against England and West Indian Management will want the same from the two.

Nicholas Pooran finished the England T20I series as the leading run-scorer with 164 runs at a strike rate of 122.38. It will be a big responsibility on his shoulder to justify his INR 10.75 cr. bid from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rovman Powell will be the player to watch against India. The right-handed batter scored 147 runs in just three innings at a strike rate of whooping 193.42. If Romario Shepherd clicks at fifth place, it will be a runs galore against India. Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Shepherd, and Pollard will play the all-rounder’s role in the middle order. Holder didn’t get much chance to bat in the last series but he was outstanding with the ball. Pollard, on the other hand, is not clicking in both departments. Another poor series can threaten his place in the squad. 

Odeon Smith and Sheldon Cottrell will lead the pace attack. Smith had an outstanding ODI series against India. It will be interesting to see if West Indies will play two spinners. Akeal Hossein will be the first choice. Though a spinner, Pollard prefers him to start the bowling. Plus he had taken 4 wickets in the last game against England. Hayden Walsh Jr. can get selected over Fabien Allen to use the right-left spin combination.

Key Players: Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran (VC), Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Kyle Mayers

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Kieron Pollard, Brandon King, Akeal Hosein, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell, Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase, Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, Odean Smith

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather will be clear with temperatures ranging between 28°C and 16°C. The wind will be flowing from the Westside at 10-15 kmh. The pitch is batting-friendly in the beginning and shifts towards assisting spinners as the match proceeds. The trend has been recognizable in the IPL as Kolkata Knight Riders prefer to play spinners on their homeground.

Venue Details

The T20I series is set to be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The oldest ground in India has the capacity to accommodate more than 90000 spectators. The highest ODI score of 264 runs was scored by Rohit Sharma at Eden Gardens. The stadium has hosted 42 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 8 T20Is.

Toss: To Bowl

In 8 T20Is played at Eden Gardens so far, Team batting second has won 5 times. Chasing is always preferred here. The team winning the toss should field first.