The first T20I match series between India and West Indies will be played at the Brian Lara Stadium on Thursday. Team India will play their 200th T20I after playing their first match against South Africa in December 2006. The Men in Blue has played 199 matches so far and won 127 matches during this period.
The team will be without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja for the series. Despite this, the Indian squad will have a strong lineup. It would also be difficult for skipper Hardik Pandya to select the best playing XI for the opening T20I. It would also be interesting to watch whether Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma get a chance in the starting lineup.
Virat Kohli leading in every aspect for India before 200th T20I match
Kohli holds the record for the most T20 runs scored for Team India. In 107 innings, he has scored 4008 runs. He scored one century and 37 half-centuries throughout this time. He is India’s T20 batsman with the most half-centuries. The 34-year-old is also the Indian T20 batter with the most fours. In the T20 World Cup and Asia Cup, he has scored the most runs for the team in this format.
The Men in Blue has played 25 T20I matches against West Indies so far and won 17 matches during this period. While faced defeat in 7 matches. They have played the most number of T20I matches against Sri Lanka. India has won 19 matches while playing 29 matches against him. While facing defeat in 9 matches. Playing 26 matches against Australia, they have won 15. At the same time, won 12 out of 25 matches against New Zealand and faced defeat in 10.
Hardik Pandya will be leading the team in the historic 200th T20I match. They have won the Test and ODI series in quite a comfortable manner and Pandya’s young brigade will try to repeat that in the five-match series.
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
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
Here’s how fans reacted:
Kohli is the greatest player for Team India??
— Ga` (@TheRGautam18) August 3, 2023
Goat of t20i ?? pic.twitter.com/sZ285Ehltm
— ???????? ?????? (@VirMessiSuyash) August 3, 2023
Hyping win against minnows??
— MESSI ?? (@Goatofthisera) August 3, 2023
Finest T20I Cricketer. ? pic.twitter.com/54DkLFmSGP
— DK (@CricCrazyDK) August 3, 2023
Most t20i tournament with most runs : kohli
— ??? ???????? (@82off52) August 3, 2023
Whole world
— MESSI ?? (@Goatofthisera) August 3, 2023
Indian Captains to win a T20 WC : MS Dhoni
Best ever T20 batsman played for India: Yuvraj Singh
— Tweetum (@TweetumTwiterum) August 3, 2023
