Cricket / India Look to Carry Asian Games Momentum into West Indies T20Is

Lucknow, Oct 5: The glow of India’s Asian Games triumph has barely faded, yet the Men in Blue are already stepping into a new challenge. On Tuesday evening in Lucknow, Shreyas Iyer’s side will trade the celebratory gold medals for the intensity of a five‑match T20I series against the West Indies.

What awaits them is not just another bilateral contest, but a test of momentum, resilience, and the ability to carry confidence from one stage to another against a Caribbean outfit brimming with self‑belief after their record ODI chase.

The series arrives just three days after the visitors stunned India in New Chandigarh, chasing down 352 runs — their highest successful ODI chase against the hosts. Captain Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 powered the West Indies to a morale-boosting victory, setting the tone for the shorter format.

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The Men in Blue, led by Shreyas Iyer with Tilak Varma as deputy, will be cautious of the Caribbean side’s explosive batting lineup. The West Indies’ power-hitters showcased their potential in the ODI series, and India will look to counter that aggression with disciplined bowling and tactical field placements.

West Indies have made one change to their squad, adding wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo as cover for Jewel Andrew, who injured his finger during the third ODI.

“Amir Jangoo has been added to the squad as cover for the wicketkeeping position following the finger injury sustained by Jewel Andrew during Saturday’s third ODI. Andrew is still being monitored and assessed by the medical team,” Cricket West Indies said in a statement on Monday.

India and West Indies last met in a T20I series in the Caribbean in 2023, where the hosts prevailed 3–2. This time, India begin a new chapter under Iyer’s leadership, fresh from guiding the team to Asian Games gold in Japan with a 19-run win over Pakistan.

Historically, India have dominated the T20 rivalry, winning 20 of 31 matches overall and nine of 11 at home. Since 2018, they have claimed 18 of 23 encounters against the West Indies on Indian soil.

For the visitors, Hope’s form will be crucial. Despite a minor groin issue, he accelerated brilliantly during the ODI chase, scoring 62 runs off his last 39 balls — a blend of composure and power that could define his T20 approach. Keemo Paul’s 44 off 35 balls in the same match, coupled with his all-round ability, adds depth to the West Indies lineup.

The Ekana Stadium is expected to offer a batting-friendly surface, with spinners likely to come into play as the match progresses. The West Indies trained under lights on Sunday, while India, returning from Japan, will hold their session on Tuesday.

After Lucknow, the remaining four T20Is will be played in Ranchi (Oct 9), Indore (Oct 11), Hyderabad (Oct 14), and Bengaluru (Oct 17).

MATCH DETAILS

Date & Time: October 6; 7:00 PM

Venue: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Telecast & Stream: Star Sports Network & JioHotstar

THE SQUADS

West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer

India: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav.

(IANS)