India vs West Indies 2019, 1st T20I, Match Prediction: Who will win the match?

India will continue their preparations for the next year’s T20I World Cup with the West Indies set to tour the subcontinent for a limited-overs leg as they would first play three T20Is and then follow it up with the same number of ODIs later on in the month.

Most importantly for India, Virat Kohli returns to lead the side after having taken a break in the Bangladesh T20I series. There are several notable inclusions in the side with the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also making their return in the T20 setup. The Indian pace attack appeared rather feeble in the previous series and they have seemed to correct that with the reintroduction of these two senior pacers in the squad.

Kuldeep makes his return after a long exile too whilst Krunal Pandya misses out with the selectors favouring Ravindra Jadeja. With Shikhar Dhawan pulling out of the series due to an injury, Sanju Samson made his way to the roster. Overall, the Indian team appears very well-rounded.

The likes of Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell and Sherfane Rutherford hold the key for the Windies if they are to spring a surprise against this Indian side. Shimron Hetmyer had an impressive series against India last year and he would hope to replicate that whereas Brandon King and Fabian Allen will have to make a notable impact if their team is to succeed in the upcoming series. Kieron Pollard would lead the side and play a pivotal role in the middle order too.

West Indies were dismantled by this Indian side when they toured them back in August this year for the T20Is and they would hope to put up a better fight this time around at least.

Prediction: The sheer might, form and the caliber of players in this Indian unit coupled with the fact that they are playing at home means that Virat Kohli’s team would be the overwhelming favourites to win this clash.