It’s hard to believe that West Indies won 5 of their first 7 completed T20Is against India, including a high-scoring semi-final at the T20 World Cup in India in 2016. On that occasion, they saw off Virat Kohli’s sensational batting and went on to beat England in a thrilling final. Since then though, India have won 10 of their 11 matches, including the 2 wins to seal this series. 

Both teams have been in rebuilding mode after dismal campaigns at the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2021. India thrashed New Zealand – finalists in that tournament – on home turf in November 2021, but the focus for Rohit Sharma, the new captain, is to plug the gaps in the XI, and get India playing the kind of attacking cricket that was absent in the UAE. 

West Indies overcame England 3-2 at home in their last outing, and have moved on from the Gayle-Bravo-Russell generation. A clutch of youngsters who have made their name in the Caribbean T20 League have been given chances, and there is quiet optimism as they look ahead to the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.  

India have now won 8 T20Is in a row for the first time in their history. For West Indies, the immediate priority is a consolation win. Carlos Brathwaite may not be in this squad, but few will ever forget his 4 consecutive 6s off Ben Stokes to win the 2016 T20 World Cup at this very venue.

Match Details

• Match: India vs. West Indies, 3rd T20
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata 
• Date & Time: Feb. 20, 2022, at 7 PM IST

India vs West Indies Probably Playing XIs

India

Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan

West Indies

Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard (C), Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Sheldon Cottrell

Head-to-head Record

Weather Report

Some showers are forecast for early on Sunday, though the weather should be clear by the start of play. The temperature should be around 19C during the game.  

Pitch Report

InUntil Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s sensational 19^th over which yielded just 4 runs, West Indies were in with a chance of becoming the 7^th chasing side to win in 10 completed international games at Eden Gardens. Their 178 for 3 was still by far the highest second-innings score made there. The conditions were to the liking of spinners on both sides, though the pace bowlers came in for quite a bit of punishment.

Toss

Overall, chasing sides have certainly had the edge at Eden Gardens. But in their victories over New Zealand and West Indies this season, when they made 184 and 186, India have shown that big totals can be defended. With heavy dew a factor in the late-winter months, teams usually prefer to bowl first. That will certainly be the case if there are clouds overhead after mid-day showers.

Top Fantasy Picks

India

• Rohit Sharma has failed to convert good starts in the first two games of the series. He was dismissed for 19 runs in the 2nd T20I. Rohit has scored 59 runs in 2 matches in this series at a strike rate of 159.45. He has an outstanding record against the West Indies, with 1 century and 4 half centuries and an average of 41.28 from 17 innings.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar outstanding yorkers were the reason for India's win in the last game. A new generation of pace bowlers has replaced him in the Test and ODI sides. But with 12 wickets at an outstanding economy rate (6.59) in 2021, he’s managed to keep his place in the shortest format. 

West Indies

• Rovman Powell is hitting the ball as hard as anyone at the moment. In 2022, Powell has scored 217 runs in 5 T20I matches at a strike rate of 188.69. He took the last game so close but failed to win for his side. He remained not out on 68 runs off just 36 balls.
• Roston Chase made his international debut back in 2016, but it’s only this season that he has played T20Is for West Indies. He has been their best bowler in the series, taking 5 for 39 across the 2 matches with his tidy off-spin.

Howzat Dream Team

• Wicketkeeper: Nicholas Pooran
• Batters: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rovman Powell
• All-rounders: Roston Chase, Jason Holder
• Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sheldon Cottrell

• Captain: Rohit Sharma/Suryakumar Yadav
• Vice Captain: Rovman Powell/Jason Holder

NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own team from today’s fantasy cricket match prediction and play all the fantasy cricket upcoming matches of the West Indies Tour of India. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team suggested.

Get fantasy cricket tips on your favorite fantasy sports app and select your own team, Howzat!