West Indies vs India 2022: T20 Series Best Predicted Playing 11 for India
KL Rahul returns as we look at the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies.
The current state of West Indies cricket seems to be in complete disarray. Players are preferring T20 tournaments across the globe over the national team matches, and that has resulted in West Indies being an inferior side in the ODIs and Test matches.
But if there’s one format that still makes West Indies a strong side, it would be the T20 format. Even though the Champion West Indies side of 2012 and 2016 can’t be compared with the team of 2022, it is still good enough to give a tough fight if not actually dominate it.
Seeing the West Indies’ inferior side, the Board of Control for Cricket in India decided to send a B Indian team for the T20 series. The likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yuzvendra Chahal have been rested. But this would be a great chance for Team India to test its bench strength; especially the bowling department.
So, with new faces in the team, what could be the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies? Let’s find out in this article. Before that, let’s look at the official squad for Team India for the T20 series vs West Indies.
West Indies vs India 2022 – Official T20 Series Squad Players List for Team India:
Batters: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, & Suryakumar Yadav
Wks: Dinesh Karthik, Ishan Kishan & Rishabh Pant
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravi Bishnoi
Coach: Rahul Dravid // Captain: Rohit Sharma
Openers: Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul
The return of KL Rahul after injury should see Team India playing their best opening duo in T20Is. Unless for injuries, we should see Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul opening the innings in all important matches. This would be a great dress rehearsal for Team India openers ahead of Asia Cup 2022.
However, as BCCI said, KL Rahul’s selection is subject to his full fitness. In case KL Rahul doesn’t recover in time, BCCI won’t name any replacement. So, in his absence, we should see Backup Ishan Kishan opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma,
Middle-order: Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant & Hardik Pandya
Coming to the middle-order, the selection could be interesting. There are many players eyeing this position. This includes the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Suryakmar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya. But of the five, Suryakumar Yadav at 3, Rishabh Pant at 4, and Hardik Pandya at 5 seem a good bet.
Again, it’s a touch unfortunate for the recent T20I centurion, Deepak Hooda, and a good performer for Team India in T20Is, Shreyas Iyer. But if India had to field their best playing 11 with Asia Cup 2022 and T20 World Cup in mind, SKY, Pant, and Hardik deserve more.
Finishers: Dinesh Karthik & Ravindra Jadeja
Talking about finishers, India would want to play Dinesh Karthik at 6 and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja at 7. With both in the squad, India have strong batting until number 7. Playing Dinesh Karthik also gives India an opportunity to continue testing him as a finisher ahead of the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup 2022.
Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav & Ravi Bishnoi
Coming to the bowling, India would be mostly playing two pacers and two spinners. West Indies pitches in general offer more advantages to the spinners; this is also seen in the recent West Indies vs Bangladesh ODI series. So, it makes sense to play 2 front-line spinners.
Talking about the pacers, the two first-choice pacers in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah shall be Harshal Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. While Bhuvi shall dominate the Powerplay and Death overs, Harshal shall be critical in Middle overs and Death overs.
So, with India selecting four good spinners for the T20 series, expect them to play three of them including Jadeja. Form the available lot, the combination of Bishnoi and Kuldeep seems more ideal. Meanwhile, Ashwin is also an option, but Kuldeep and Bishnoi deserve more with the future in mind.
West Indies vs India 2022: Best Predicted Playing 11 for T20 Series
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav & Ravi Bishnoi
So, that completes the best predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies. Most of the positions seems sorted; except for the second spinner spot. If India decide to go with experience, then Ashwin could play and Bishnoi might miss out.
Meanwhile, here’s the full schedule for West Indies vs India 2022 T20 Series:
- 1st T20I // July 29 // 8 pm IST // Tarouba
- 2nd T20I // August 1 // 8 pm IST // Basseterre
- 3rd T20I // August 2 // 8 pm IST // Basseterre
- 4th T20I // August 6 // 8 pm IST // Lauderhill
- 5th T20I // August 7 // 8 pm IST // Lauderhill
Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com
ALSO READ: West Indies vs India 2022: Official T20 Squad Players list – No Kohli
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
