KEY CLASHES
Despite Chris Gayle’s return for the lone T20I, India would look to end their tour of the Caribbean on a high. HT takes a look at the players expected to make a mark:
CHRIS GAYLE VS BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR
While Gayle’s presence has given the West Indies a boost, his recent record isn’t impressive. He’s played 18 T20I matches in 2017 but has managed to score just 360 at an average of 20. His clash against Bhuvneshwar, the most successful bowler in the recently concluded Indian Premier League, will be an interesting one given that Bhuvneshwar can swing the ball both ways.
SAMUEL BADREE VS ROHIT SHARMA
With 50 wickets in the shortest format, Badree will be one of the strike bowlers for West Indies on Sunday. The leg-break bowler had an impressive run in the IPL and although he finished with nine wickets from seven matches, his strike rate of 16.66 proved his calibre. Against Rohit, who he scalped previously, Badree might pose a few threats with the ball turning away from the right hander.
SUNIL NARINE VS VIRAT KOHLI
If Virat has earned a reputation of being one of the best batsmen in the world, Narine has made his mark with his deliveries that even had Sachin Tendulkar on his knees once. It should be an entertaining duel given Narine’s ability to dry up runs while Virat likes to play aggressively throughout. The India captain is in good touch and would want to continue with his form.
EVIN LEWIS VS MOHAMMED SHAMI
Lewis’s only century in T20Is came at Lauderhill against India last year when the two met for a two-match series. It was only his second T20I game but the right hander hammered the India bowlers, scoring 100 off just 49 deliveries for the second fastest ton by a West Indian. Since then, Lewis has managed just one half-century and Shami might be tough to deal with given the swing he can generate off the surface.
KIERON POLLARD VS HARDIK PANDYA
Both have a role to play — score quick-fire runs down the order and pick up wickets. Apart from that, they both bowl at the death and that will pit them against each other. Pandya has seen an astronomical rise over the past year and has been captain Virat Kohli’s key man for a while now. On the other hand, Pollard’s experience has seen him emerge as one of the key men in the side.