T20 1: West Indies vs India
It’s time to hang on to your hats again cricket fans. If you’ve caught your breath after a sensational ODI World Cup final win for England, then get ready for some T20 action.
T20 1: West Indies vs India is a clash of two of the most exciting teams in world cricket, and what better way to get back into the wam bam of limited over cricket after the sensational World Cup.
Few cricket fans will ever forget England’s breathtaking Super Over victory over New Zealand two weeks ago, but the big hitting and death bowling will keep on coming, and this week we have the Windies hosting the brilliant India at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium at Lauderhill in Florida.
Both West Indies and India have attacking cricket in their DNA, but amazingly neither sits near the top of the ICC Rankings, India at fifth and West Indies at eighth. Don’t let that deceive you – this series brings together the T20 World Champions and one of the two best ODI teams on the planet.
Talking Points
Carlos has history
The West Indies snatched the 2016 T20 World Cup from the grasp of England in spectacular style, clawing their way back into a game in which they looked dead and buried. Chasing 156 to win the Windies recovered from 11 for three and were still in the game in the final over, needing 19 to win.
And that’s when poor Ben Stokes came up against Carlos Brathwaite, who plundered the first four balls of the final over for six to win the World T20 in style. Brathwaite is skippering the side now and, having had a good ODI World Cup, he’ll be itching to get stuck in to India.
But Brathwaite and his team will have to take on India without two of their biggest names.
The West Indies vs India news headlines usually feature the big man Chris Gayle, who swaggered and entertained at the recent ODI World Cup. But he’s chosen to play in the Canada G20 instead, and he’ll be a big miss in terms of crowd pleasing action.
And Marlon Samuels, who hit a brilliant 85 to set up Brathwaite’s match-winning blast in the 2016 final, is also absent. The Windies have turned to some experience in the shape of spinner Sunil Narine and explosive hitter Kieron Pollard. Narine was missing from the ODI tournament with a finger injury but should be fit to play.
The only newcomer is wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble, though Nicholas Pooran will take the gloves in the opening game. Meanwhile, Andre Russell has recovered from the knee injury which saw his early exit from the World Cup.
Chairman of selectors Robert Hayes is pleased with the balance of youth and experience, saying: “It’s not just about the present -– the India tour of the West Indies –- but we are also looking at the T20 World Cup coming up next year and it is important that we find the right combination of players and the right formula for defending our title.”
India turns to youth
The tourists have one of the most star-studded collections of players in world cricket, but they too will be missing a couple of big names, with the best batter on the planet Virat Kohli sitting it out, alongside arguably the best death bowler, Jasprit Bumrah.
India was co-favourite to win the ICC World Cup and eventual winners England were probably pleased they faced New Zealand in the final. Kohli and Bumrah are ready for a rest, though they will return for the two match test series, which is part of the inaugural World Test Championship.
We may see Rohit Sharma, who has been India’s go to big hitter for some time now in the limited over format of the game.
But the Indian T20 selectors will take the chance to look at some new players in the run up to the 2020 World Cup in Australia. Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar and Sanju Samson have all made the squad and will hope to impress at the right time to join the T20 festival next year.
History
Saturday’s clash is the first of three T20s, which will be followed by a three match ODI series and two Test Matches.
These two sides have battled hard in previous T20 games winning five each of the last ten.
Betting Tip
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West Indies vs India | West Indies @ 2.25 |
| August 3, 22:30 (GMT+8) |
The very latest West Indies vs India betting odds here at SBOBET point to a hard fought contest and while India has undoubted pedigree, it is resting its two best players, while Carlos Brathwaite is the man the Windies can look to as a leader.
When Kohli and Bumrah return for the test series it will be a different prospect, but in the meantime the Reggae Boys can have some fun!
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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