India has won just two T20I matches against West Indies.
India will take on West Indies in the first T20I match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata after successfully winning the Test and ODI series.
India will be led by Rohit Sharma in the series as Virat Kohli has been rested and this is also a wonderful opportunity for Rishabh Pant to establish himself as a long-term wicketkeeper since MS Dhoni has been dropped from the T20I team.
The match will see the debut of elder Pandya brother, the spinning all-rounder Krunal, who has shined brightly in the format for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and Baroda in domestic cricket. The pressure will be on Shikhar Dhawan to come well after a second consecutive poor ODI series.
For the West Indies, the injury to Andre Russell was a big blow to an already depleted Windies side that is missing the likes of Gayle, Lewis, and Narine in their lineup. What remains to be seen is how Carlos Brathwaite copes up with this loss and give the Indian team a run for their money in their own backyard in a format, that West Indies has flourished in the last few years.
Toss: India have won the toss and have opted to field
Playing XI:
West Indies :Rovman Powell, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Denesh Ramdin(w), Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite(c), Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen, Khary Pierre, Oshane Thomas
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik(w), Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, K Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav