INDIA VS. WEST INDIES: 1st T20 | HOWZAT PREDICTION AND FANTASY CRICKET TIPS
West Indies may have won 2 T20 World Cups to India’s 1, but they have a poor record against India in the shortest format, having won just 2 of their last 10 matches. However, followers of West Indies cricket will remind you that they won the match that mattered most, the T20 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in March 2016.
Both teams performed far below expectations at the T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2021, and are on the rebuilding path ahead of the next edition in Australia later this year. West Indies beat England in the Caribbean last month, and India brushed aside New Zealand – World T20 runners-up – at home in November 2021. Several of these players have yet to play against each other in international cricket, but with so many West Indian players part of the Indian T20 League, there is very little mystery involved when it comes to selection.
India is on a 6-match winning streak in T20Is. If they win at Eden Gardens, it will match their best-ever sequence of 7 wins. For the West Indies, Kolkata means a return to the scene of one of their greatest triumphs. Carlos Brathwaite may no longer be part of the squad, but few will ever forget the night when his 4 sixes off Ben Stokes stole the T20 World Cup for the West Indies.
Match Details
- Match: India vs. West Indies
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Date & Time: Feb. 16, 2022, at 7 PM IST
India vs West Indies Probably Playing XIs
India
Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal
West Indies
Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard (C), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Sheldon Cottrell
Head-to-head Record
Weather Report
The skies over Kolkata are expected to be clear, with just mild winds. By the start of the match, the temperature should dip to around 16c.
Pitch Report
Traditionally this hasn’t been an easy surface to bat on. India thrashed New Zealand in November 2021, after scoring 184/7 batting first. But that was only the third time a score in excess of 160 has been made at Eden Gardens in a T20I. While the spinners have enjoyed the conditions, there has also been encouragement for bowlers who hit the deck hard. Of the 8 completed matches at the venue, 5 have been won by the chasing side. India have lost just 1 of their 4 matches at Eden Gardens.
Toss
Chasing sides have won more than they have lost here. But against New Zealand in 2021, India succeeded by putting runs on the board before the spinners and Harshal Patel’s cutters wreaked havoc. Kolkata has had heavy dew most evenings this month, so the team winning the toss could well choose to bowl first.
Top Fantasy Picks
India
- Rohit Sharma has 519 T20I runs against the West Indies, at an average of 43,25 and a strike-rate of 141.41. He has scored a century and 4 half centuries in his 15 games against them.
- Harshal Patel is having a dream time with the ball in the last 12 months. He made his T20I debut last year against New Zealand and picked up four wickets in two matches at an average of 12.75. He took eight wickets in five matches during the domestic T20 tournament at an average of 20.
West Indies
- Kieron Pollard may be nearly 35, but his international career is going strong after he took over the captaincy from Jason Holder. He has scored more T20I runs against India (292) than against any other teams, and 2 of his 6 fifties in the format have come against India. An economy rate of 10.81 suggests he may not fancy a bowl though.
- Akeal Hosein has been good with the ball since making his debut in 2021. The Trinidad-born left-arm spinner has taken 15 T20I wickets with an excellent economy rate of 7.03. That includes 10 wickets against a powerful England side, and best figures of 4 for 30.
Howzat Dream Team
- Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Nicholas Pooran
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Kyle Mayers, Kieron Pollard
- All-rounders: Jason Holder
- Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein
- Captain: Rohit Sharma/Deepak Chahar
- Vice Captain: Kieron Pollard/Jason Holder
India vs West Indies, 1st T20 – HOWZAT Dream Team
NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own team from today’s fantasy cricket match prediction and play all the fantasy cricket upcoming matches of the West Indies Tour of India. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team suggested.
Get fantasy cricket tips on your favorite fantasy sports app and select your own team, Howzat!
