India vs West Indies 1st T20I: Prediction and Betting Tips

With the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in Australia in October there are opportunities and places up for grabs on both sides.

Key Stats

• In total, the two teams have met 16 times in T20Is with India leading 10-6, including seven of the last eight
• India has won their last five home T20I series and has lost only one series in their last nine home or away
• The hosts have won their last six T20I matches against West Indies since 2018
• West Indies beat England 3-2 in T20Is in Barbados in January and could win back-to-back series for the first time since 2018.
• Before the England win, West Indies had only won six matches, drawn one and lost 12 since 2018.
• In eight of 12 T20I series defeats since 2018, West Indies failed to win a single match.
• West Indies have not lost the first match in any of their last five T20I bilateral series.

Big money IPL Mega Auction buys set to show their worth

Ishan Kishan found himself 15.25 crore ($2.02 million) richer after Mumbai Indians bought him back into their IPL squad. The 23-year-old is not however guaranteed a fourth T20I cap despite top-order rival Shikhar Dhawan being left out of the squad and KL Rahul absent with a hamstring injury.

Skipper Rohit Sharma has several contenders to open the batting with him. Competing with Kishan are Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK’s opener who amassed 635 runs in IPL 2021 at an average of 45.36.

And then there’s former Virat Kohli, although he may be more likely to come in at no.3. Kohli is experiencing an uncharacteristic dip in form. The former skipper hasn’t notched an international century in any format since 2019. In the three ODIs against West Indies he only managed 26 runs. He is stretching the saying that class is permanent to the limit.

Shreyas Iyer looks set to bat at no.4 where he averages 50.00 as opposed to 28 elsewhere.

It isn’t just Indian players that have had a bank boost from the IPL Mega Auction. 17 West Indies players were bought by IPL franchises, of which seven are in the current West Indies T20I squad. West Indies secured more IPL opportunities than any other foreign nation. That so many of the bought players have moved on from international duty is a sign of the times. The new look side played without fear however in the recent series win over England and created a real buzz.

Rohit Sharma or Karl Mayers to top score

A player in the top three to be leading run scorer is always the way to go. They have the opportunity to face most of the 120 legitimate balls available.

Opener Rohit would be the pick to top score for India at 3.50. He has scored the most runs in this fixture (519) with only Kohli (501) scoring more than 353 on either side. Despite Kohli’s average against West Indies being 62.63, and higher than Rohit’s, by his high standards, his form is seriously under par.

Karl Mayers was impressive in the recent England series after being promoted to open for the last two matches. He made 40 (23 balls) and 31 (19) and got his team off to a stellar start. His team will need him to do the same again in Kolkata and at 4.50 could be worth a punt. Rovman Powell may feature on a few betting slips at 6.00 because of a superb century against England last month, but he’s too hit and miss for my tastes.

Bhuvi the one to watch

With leading paceman Jasprit Bumrah being rested for the series there is opportunity for others Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel may get a chance to stake a longer-term claim, but Shardul Thakur continues to impress and often picks up wickets in the final overs. But the experienced Bhunneshwar Kumar will lead the attack and at 5.00 will be thereabouts.

Yuzvendra Chahal v Shardul Thakur – Bowler Match Bet

Plenty of markets exist for a T20I and this one appeals with William Hill. Shardul Thakur has come of age in the last couple of years and often takes wickets when the hit is on towards the death. Yuzvendra Chahal is the favourite to take the most wickets for India, but he’s not been at his best recently. Chahal has taken two-plus wickets only once in his last 15 T20Is and can’t be trusted with our hard-earned money. Let’s take ‘Lord’ Thakur at around 2.20.

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

The average first innings score in T20Is played at Eden Gardens is 152. It is 177 for teams who bat first and go on to win.

India has a 3:1 success rate at Eden Gardens and West Indies’ record stands at 1:1.

Team News

India’s vice-captain KL Rahul (hamstring) and all-rounder Axar Patel (recovering from Covid-19) have been ruled out of the series Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda named as replacements. Washington Sundar suffered a hamstring strain when fielding in the third ODI and has been replaced by Kuldeep Yadav

India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav.

West Indies T20I Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.