The 2nd T20I between India and West Indies is set to take place at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on August 6, 2023.
The debut of young talent Tilak Varma marked a memorable moment as he smashed two sixes off his first three balls in international cricket during the opening game. However, apart from that moment of brilliance, the Indian batting lineup struggled, leading to a disappointing loss against the West Indies.
The pitch in the first game wasn’t easy to bat on, but given India’s strong batting lineup, they were expected to chase down the target of 150 set by the West Indies.
Unfortunately, top-order batsmen like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Sanju Samson failed to find their rhythm, putting extra pressure on the lower order to salvage the innings. This issue of the lower order’s lack of contribution with the bat has been a recurring problem for India in white-ball cricket.
It’s essential for India to address this concern, especially with the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the West Indies in less than a year.
The series against the West Indies serves as a crucial platform for players like Kishan, Gill, and Samson to prove that they can excel in the challenging conditions prevalent in this part of the world.
As the action shifts to Guyana, the pitches are not expected to be drastically different. Historically, spin has played a significant role in matches played here, with both teams struggling to score freely in recent encounters.
Given the spin-friendly conditions, the teams will need to find ways to push their scores beyond the par total, making adaptability and resilience key traits for success.
With the World Cup looming on the horizon, these matches become even more critical as performances here will be closely monitored and taken into account while forming the final squad.
Both teams will be eager to square the series in the second T20I and use this opportunity to prepare themselves for the bigger challenge that awaits them in the T20 World Cup.
Despite the spin-friendly conditions, there is a possibility of a morning shower on match day that could potentially disrupt the game.
Rovman Powell, captain of the West Indies, regretted not including an additional spinner in the first game and may consider making changes to their lineup for the second T20I. Roston Chase could be a potential inclusion to bolster their spin options.
For India, there might be a temptation to bring Yashasvi Jaiswal into the top order, but Ishan Kishan is likely to retain his spot, resulting in an unchanged playing XI for the visitors.
As the stage is set for an enthralling encounter in Guyana, both teams will be eager to showcase their skills and bounce back strongly. The fans can look forward to witnessing a gripping battle between bat and ball as the teams strive to gain the upper hand in this crucial series.
IND vs WI 2nd T20I: Playing XI
West Indies Probable XI: Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Johnson Charles/Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (C), Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy
India Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar