India vs West Indies T20 combined XI

After the debacle in the Test series the West Indies cricket team returns to a format in which they rule the world. The Caribbean boys will lock horns with the Indian team in Florida, and the world T20 champions will go into the tournament as hot favourites, and the power-packed line-up will back their chances against the MS Dhoni-led Indian team.

West Indies have a new captain in Carlos Brathwaite, and the burly all-rounder will have his task cut out as he stepping into the shoes of Darren Sammy. The Indian team on the other side will be buoyed by their performances in the Test series, and they have to now build on from that series. The men in blue have the pedigree in their ranks and will look to give West Indies a run for their money.

There is enough ammunition in either side and the match promises to be a real humdinger.

Here is the India-West Indies combined XI for the match.

Chris Gayle:

The big-hitting Jamaican will come into this tournament after having won the Caribbean Premier League and will be oozing with confidence. This and the fact that the boundaries at the ground are not too big for the marauder.

Also, the opener is well accustomed with the Indian bowlers and this gives him a massive advantage going into the game. After the CPL, his confidence will be sky high and he would love to carry on with his imposing figure. The left-hander will also want to avenge his cheap dismissal during the World T20 final, and would ideally want to put the record straight. A certain threat for India!

Rohit Sharma:

The Mumbai batsman has been one of the most successful limited overs players for India over the past few years. He will be one of the stars of the Indian team and his start at the top of the innings will be a critical element to the success of the Indian team.

The talent of Rohit needs no introduction and now being the senior player in the Team he will have step and deliver the goods in the series. He is adept against seam and spin and hence will have to try to bat as deep as possible. Also, once he starts playing his strokes, there are few batsmen who can match him.

Virat Kohli:

Virat Kohli has churned out magical numbers in T20 this year and once again the spotlight will be on him to score big runs for the team. The Indian Test captain was an irrepressible force in T20s, as he scored 3 half-centuries against Australia before becoming the leading run scored for India in the World T20.

In the IPL which followed the tournament, he reached dizzying heights as he smashed 4 centuries in the tournament and led his side the Royal Challengers Bangalore into the finals. Kohli was in decent form in the Test series and now he will look to dominate proceedings once again in the shortest format.

Marlon Samuels:

The enigmatic right-hander has been a proven match-winner for West Indies in this format for a long time now. He is a big match player and turns up when the chips are down for his team.

This being said the Jamaican was not in form during the Test series, but there is no reason why he cannot turn things around for him and his team. He can only be underestimated if the teams want to be shocked on the main day.

Samuels has the game and the experience to play a match-winning innings on any given day, but it all depends on which Marlon Samuels walks onto the ground on the given day.

Andre Russell:

Another Jamaican powerhouse, Andre Russell has come leaps and bounds since his debut and has now established himself as a dangerous prospect in Twenty20s.

The all-rounder has the ability to turn matches both with the bat and ball. Also, he had a bumper CPL, where he changed the complexion of many matches with his supreme skills in all facets.

Russell is a very difficult batsman to bowl to once he has got into the groove and his power is capable of dismantling any bowling attack on any ground under any conditions.

With the ball, he can bowl with serious gas and has the ability to slice through the batting order of the opposition.

MS Dhoni:

The Indian limited overs skipper returns after a break, and would look to do what he knows best, which is to finish games and manoeuvre oppositions.

Things will not be easy for Dhoni as he is coming back to International cricket, but the man will give it all on the day. Also, Dhoni would want to find his old rhythm back and provide the late impetus to the innings.

Dhoni will also be back on the hot seat and it will be interesting to see his tactics on an unknown field and alien conditions.

Dwayne Bravo:

The champion returns to the format in which he keeps putting the stage on fire. Dwayne Bravo danced and sung his way through the World T20, but then there is no doubt over the capability of the man when it comes down to dishing out superlative performances with the bat, ball and then in the field.

He has a wide range of variations up his sleeve and thus is quite a handful during the death overs. He is also a lusty hitter of the cricket ball and changes the complexion of the match with his willow too.

He knows the condition in Florida well and thus will be a massive factor in the series.

Carlos Brathwaite:

The newly appointed captain of West Indies comes into this series after having taken massive strides in the format. His 4 sixes in the final over of the World T20 final is one for the ages, and the young player now has the added responsibility of captaining the side.

The powerful lad is a colossal hitter of the cricket ball, but it is his bowling which has improved a lot in the past few months. He can bowl fast but has the variations to be successful in T20s.

Also, he takes over from Darren Sammy as the skipper and thus the pressure will be immense on the young man. How he responds will be an interesting watch.

Ravichandran Ashwin:

The off-spinner has become one of the best spinners in Test cricket and was adjudged the man of the series in the recently concluded Test series. He returns to the format from which he got his recognition and Ashwin will know that he has to take his form into the shortest format.

He has a very handy record in T20s, more so against Chris Gayle and thus it will not be a surprise if Dhoni gives him the new ball to attack Gayle right at the outset. However, his form in limited overs cricket has not been very good, but the man would want to impose himself on the game.

Sunil Narine:

The mystery spinner has become a far more confident bowler with his new action and has now started picking up wickets. His form and skills were on display during the CPL, and he will pose a big threat to the Indian batsmen.

Much like many West Indies players, Narine knows the conditions in Florida well, as he has played CPL matches in the venue, and thus he can be a real asset for West Indies.

Jasprit Bumrah:

The young fast bowler was one of the finds for India during the previous season and he would want to build on from the promise displayed.

Also, Bumrah has the bowling to trouble almost all batsmen in the circuit as he can make the new as well as the old ball talk. He is very effective with the old ball as he nails his yorkers with precision and this is a big boost for MS Dhoni.

Cricket fans will remember his yorker to dismiss Chris Gayle during the semi-finals of the World T20, and this contest promises to be an interesting affair.