Big guns’ return gives Windies hope
the second game was abandoned. Before that, India lost the World T20 semifinal as the eventual champions chased down 192.
What will give India hope is that West Indies haven’t had the best of runs in T20Is recently.
Although they’ve played more T20Is over the last one year --- 12 against India’s five, their only convincing show came against Afghanistan, who they beat 3-0.
They lost six T20Is in the interim to Pakistan winning just one. India, in the meantime, beat England 2-1 in the series at home earlier this year.
To be fair, none of these superstar West Indians are unknown to the Indians.
Chris Gayle has spent more time in the dugout with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore than with any of his teammates, whereas Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine are an integral part of their respective IPL squads.
With Virat likely to open, India will hope that they don’t have to fall back on the fragile middle order. In the last few matches, their main batsman has been KL Rahul apart from Virat. Rahul brought them close to a win in Lauderhill while batting in the middle-order.
However, with him out, the focus will be on the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan to carry on the good work from ODIs to T20Is.
PRIDE AT STAKE After the loss in ODI series, world champions will be looking to Chris Gayle & Co for deliverance