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India Can’t Take Things Lightly vs West Indies in the T20 Series

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Virat Kohli & Co cannot afford to be complacent in the T20I series.

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India will begin their one-month long tour to West Indies with a three-match T20 international series on Saturday, 3 August.

The last time the two sides met in a T20 contest, India blanked West Indies 3-0 in India. However, after their semi-final exit from the World Cup, Team India will be looking to get back in the groove with a good start to the Windies tour.

On paper, the Indian side look strong as compared to the volatile Windies. A new looking middle-order, along with the tried and tested top-order and a younger pace battery might give India the needed edge but as aforementioned, nothing can be taken for granted against the ‘volatile’ West Indies side.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Virat Kohli & Co cannot afford to be complacent in the three-match T20I series:

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Reigning T20 Champions

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Virat Kohli & Co cannot afford to be complacent in the T20I series.
West Indies won the T20 World Cup in India in 2016                                                   
(Photo Courtesy: AP)  

World Champions at present and the only side to win the T20 World Cup twice, the current West Indies team is probably one of the best units as far as the shortest format of the game is concerned.

The West Indies side won the 2012 and 2016 editions of the tournament.

West Indies might be ninth in ICC’s T20 ranking while India are fifth, but in no way can Team India be complacent. The former’s rank doesn’t reflect, in any manner, how big a threat they are in the T20 format.

The big-hitting and all-rounded abilities of the Windies’ cricketers is hardly unknown, of which the Indian side should be mindful when they meet the other side.

At the end of the day, winning two World Cups in a particular format can’t be a flash in the pan.
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‘T20 Specialists’

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Virat Kohli & Co cannot afford to be complacent in the T20I series.
Andre Russell (left), Sunil Narine (centre) and Keiron Pollard (right) have always been the star attractions and the mainstays for many franchises in different T20 leagues across the globe.
(Photo: The Quint)

The West Indies side is teeming with T20 specialists. The side might be unpredictable in ODIs and a disappointment in Tests, but 20-over cricket is right up their alley.

From Andre Russell to Keiron Pollard to Sunil Narine – Windies cricketers have always been the star attractions and the mainstays for many franchises in different T20 leagues across the globe.

Most of the current lot of West Indies cricketers are known for their all-round abilities and big-hitting prowess.

Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine are all more than handy with the ball and gruesome with the bat.

Be it the Indian Premier League, Big Bash, Bangladesh Premier League or the Pakistan Super League, cricketers from West Indies are surely globe trotters as far as the T20 leagues are concerned.

With big hitters in the batting line-up and a more than couple of all-rounders, the young West Indies squad have justified the ‘T20 specialist’ tag more often than not.

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Pollard & Narine Back in Business

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Virat Kohli & Co cannot afford to be complacent in the T20I series.
Narine last played in a T20I for West Indies against England almost two years ago and Pollard appeared last November on India tour
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

T20 veterans Sunil Narine and Keiren Pollard are making a comeback in the T20 squad in the series against India.

While Narine last played a T20I in 2017 against England in Chester-le-Street, Pollard’s last T20I match was against India last November in Chennai. Both of them were not part of the World Cup-bound squad.

In the IPL, both Narine and Pollard have been with the same team for eight and ten seasons respectively and have already attained a cult status. It was Narine with his bowling that lead Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles while Pollard continues to be the mainstay of Mumbai Indians’ middle order as the side won their fourth IPL title this season.

The duo’s familiarity with the Indian players, courtesy of the IPL, will surely give them an upper hand against India and the West Indies’ selection committee made a smart call by including them in the squad.

Kohli & Co might find it difficult to tackle Narine’s variations – knuckle ball, carrom ball and skidder, and Pollard, who can always pack a surprise with the bat.

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Past Records

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why Virat Kohli & Co cannot afford to be complacent in the T20I series.
India haven’t won a T20 International against West Indies in West Indies in the last eight years.
(Photo Courtesy: AP)

In the recent past, India have failed to win a T20 series in the Caribbean. As a matter of fact, they haven’t won a T20 International against West Indies in West Indies in the last eight years!

The first time India played West Indies in a T20 International in West Indies was way back in 2010 during the World T20. India lost the match by 14 runs.

One year later, India were back in the Caribbean for a full-fledged tour, which included a solitary T20 fixture. This was the only time India won a T20 International in West Indies as they beat the hosts by 16 runs.

In 2016, India played West Indies in a two-match T20I series in Florida. After losing the first T20 by a one-run margin, the second T20 saw no result as rain played a spoilsport.

India travelled to West Indies in 2017 again and were royally thrashed by West Indies in the one-off T20 encounter, in which India lost by 9 wickets.

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