West Indies vs India, 1st T20I Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma set for debut

Today, the first of five Twenty20 Internationals between India and the West Indies will take place at Trinidad's Brian Lara Stadium. There will be significant roster alterations for both teams following the conclusion of the ODI series just a few hours ago at the same venue.

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being rested for the T20I series, it is once again all-rounder Hardik Pandya who will be leading Team India. Yashasvi Jaiswal, an opener for the Rajasthan Royals and the Mumbai franchise, is returning to the India squad after making a spectacular Test debut last month.

He will make his T20I debut on Thursday. In the successful Test against Dominica, Jaiswal scored a hundred.

When young Mumbai Indians hitter Tilak Varma also makes his T20I debut, it will be interesting to see if both 'Player of the Series' in ODIs Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson can be slotted into the same playing 11.

Hardik Pandya's backup in this T20I series will be Suryakumar Yadav, who is ranked first in the world among T20I batters. With two matches at the Brian Lara Stadium in as many days, Team India may decide to insert Axar Patel as an extra spinner into their bowling attack.

It will be a toss up between leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi for the first-choice spinner's job, although in-form Kuldeep Yadav should also remain in the lineup.

Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm pacer, will return to the Indian team and be paired with either Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, or Umran Malik.

However, Delhi Capitals all-rounder Rovman Powell will captain the West Indies side. Shai Hope, the captain of the ODI team, has been summoned back to lead the T20I squad.

Nicholas Pooran, a batter for the Lucknow Super Giants, will return to the squad after his amazing 137 not out for MI New York in the MLC 2023 final earlier this week.

India vs West Indies 1st T20I Predicted Playing 11

India: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan/Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal/Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar/Umran Malik/Avesh Khan

West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles/Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (c), Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd/Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph/Oshane Thomas