India vs West Indies T20Is: Top three player battles to watch out for | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: After winning the Test and ODI series, India will now turn their attention towards the five-match T20I series against the West Indies, their final leg of the multi-format Caribbean and US tour, which kicks-off in Trinidad.

The T20 is the format West Indies are most likely to challenge the young Indian side more, as they remain a formidable team in the shortest format of the game. The two-time World T20 champions will look to end the tour on a high note after narrowly losing the ODIs 1-2 and Tests 0-1 against the more fancied visitors.
On paper, India still remain favourites as No.1 side in the world with the West Indies currently ranked seventh in T20Is. But the Hardik Pandya-led side, without senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could potentially face a much tougher challenge in this series.

Here Timesofindia.com highlights the top three player battles which could have a big impact on the outcome of the T20I series:
Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Alzarri Joseph
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his international debut in the just concluded two-match Test series against the West Indies, impressed all by hitting a majestic 171 on his debut innings. Riding high on his impressive international debut, backed by a fruitful IPL season, Jaiswal will be looking to start his international career in the shorter format with a bang too.
The 21-year old youngster will have to face the pace of Alzarri Joseph upfront in the series. Alzarri has had a terrific start to his T20I career since making his debut a year ago against India in Trinidad.
After a lacklustre performance in the tour so far – 1 wicket in two Tests, 3 wickets in 2 ODIs, Alzarri will be looking to make his mark in the shortest format. He will be key to stop the likes of Jaiswal upfront and deny India a solid start in their innings. He has a decent record against India in the last T20 series, taking five wickets in four games at an average of 28.60, and will be looking to improve on it. The last time Alzarri played a T20I (March 2023), he ended up taking his career best figures of 5 for 40 against South Africa in Johannesburg.
T20I Records:
Yashasvi Jaiswal— Yet to make debut | IPL 2023: M 14 | R 625 | Ave. 48.08 | SR 163.61
Alzarri Joseph— M 12 | W 22 | BBI 5/40 | Av. 16.36 | Econ. 7.82 | SR 12.5 | 1x5w

Suryakumar Yadav vs Obed McCoy
Suryakumar Yadav will be back to his main domain when the T20I series starts on Thursday. The ‘undisputed’ numero uno batter of the shortest format had a below par ODI series, managing just 78 runs in three matches, but looked getting his groove back in the series decider when he scored 35, off 30 balls, with the help of two sixes and two fours. Surya will be eager to be back to his dominant best in the five-match series. He had a more than decent record against the hosts in the T20Is, scoring 242 @40.33 in seven innings which included two fifties.
The left-arm pacer Obed McCoy will have the responsibility to stop World No.1 batter Surya. McCoy has had a terrific start to his T20I career and also has a good record against India – nine wickets from five innings including his career best figures of 6 for 17 last year in August, which is the best figures by a West Indian in the format. And his record at home is even more impressive, 33 wickets @16.66 in 19 innings. He will definitely pose many challenges to India’s batting line-up including Surya in the upcoming series.
T20I Records:
Suryakumar Yadav — M 48 | I 46 | R 1675 | HS 117 | Ave. 46.52 | SR 175.76 | 3x100s | 13x50s
Obed McCoy — M 27 | W 38 | BBI 6/17 | Av. 19.97 | Econ. 8.38 | SR 14.2 | 1x5w
Kuldeep Yadav vs Rovman Powell
Kuldeep Yadav is going into the T20I series after a terrific ODI series against the same opponent. The left-arm wrist spinner was almost unplayable in the ODIs, taking 7 wickets @8.71 in three games, finishing as the second highest wicket-taker in the series behind Shardul Thakur (8 wickets). Kuldeep is a proven performer in the format and has a terrific record against the Windies – 11 wickets in five games at 12.36 average and 6.80 economy. He will be tough to read for the hosts batters in the series as happened in the ODIs.
Captain Powell, who was dropped from the playing XI of the ODI series after playing the first ODI, will be leading the side in the shortest format and will look to lead from the front. He though has to negotiate the wily spinner Kuldeep in the middle overs. Powell has a solid T20I record and even has a century in the format. His record at home is also very impressive — 382 runs in 17 innings @34.72. Powell’s experience and brilliant record against India and at home makes him the middle-order mainstay for the home side.
T20I Records:
Rovman Powell — M 58 | I 49 | R 972 | HS 107 | Ave. 24.30 | SR 138.46 | 1x100s | 4x50s
Kuldeep Yadav — M 28 | W 46 | BBI 5/24 | Av. 14.47 | Econ. 6.76 | SR 12.8 | 1x5w