The Indian cricket team is now set to switch to T20I mode. The team will play the first T20I against the West Indies on Tuesday, October 6, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM local time.
Having won the three-match ODI series 2-1, the Indian team will now shift its focus to the T20I series. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side following the team’s victory at the 2026 Asian Games. Young players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma will also be seen in action.
Also Read: Mukesh Kumar Stakes Claim for India Test Spot With 8-Wicket Haul
The West Indies will look to draw confidence from their previous ODI match, where they successfully chased down a target of over 350 runs; however, this is a different format, though Shai Hope will continue to lead the team here as well. The two teams last faced each other during the 2026 T20 World Cup, where India knocked the West Indies out thanks to a magnificent innings by Sanju Samson. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this series—the two-time T20 World Cup champions or the three-time T20 World Cup champions.
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report
A slow and low-bounce surface is expected for the first T20I between India and the West Indies at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium. Due to the large boundaries, batters may find it difficult to consistently clear the ropes. As the game progresses, spinners could play a crucial role during the middle overs. A score of around 165–175 is typical for the first innings on this pitch.
India’s probable playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav
West Indies’ probable playing XI:
Kamil Pooran, Shai Hope (captain and wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
