West Indies might be an easy opposition in the Test arena and to some extent in the ODI format as well, but they are a team to reckon with in the T20 format. They are only placed behind 2016 World T20 favourites India in the ICC Rankings for the shortest format of the game and their 2012 World T20 triumph is enough to prove how strong they can be.
They had a good outing in the 2014 edition as well, reaching the semi-final stage before losing to eventual champions Sri Lanka in a rain-affected encounter. The very fact that T20 franchises around the world make a beeline for West Indies players speaks volumes about their potential but a lot will depend on how well the team gel under the leadership of Darren Sammy.
The batting department is the strongest point for West Indies spearheaded by Chris Gayle, arguably the most feared batsman in the T20 format. The burly West Indian can murder any bowling attack on his day and once set, there is hardly any bowler who will be able to withstand the onslaught. He will open the innings with Lendl Simmons, who is well versed with the Indian pitches following his stint with Mumbai Indians.
Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels follows the two destructive openers while Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell will be entrusted with the job of finishing things off towards the latter part of the innings for West Indies. The absence of Kieron Pollard due to injury is a mighty blow though as the Carribean side will miss his services not just with the bat and bowl, but on the field as well.
The spin duo of Suleiman Benn and Samuel Badree is highly competitive as well with the latter holding the enviable record of the best economy rate among any spinner who has bowled a minimum of 20 overs in T20Is. They will be hoping to attract plenty of purchase from the slow pitches in India and could feature together in the playing eleven.
The presence of fast-bowling all-rounders like Sammy, Bravo and Russell is a big boon for the West Indies while the team’s ODI and Test skipper Jason Holder could be a bit of a liability in the T20 format at times with his economy tending to be on the expensive side.
Having bowling options in plenty should negate this fact though and the presence of X-rated players like Gayle, Russell and Bravo, who is one of the best death bowlers in the T20 format, should see them giving any team a run for their money at the world T20.
West Indies Squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Andre Fletcher, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Samuel Badree.
