Kuldeep to return, Jaiswal set to open in series decider: India's predicted XI against West Indies for 3rd T20I

IND predicted XI vs WI, 3rd T20I: India’s T20I tour of the West Indies has gotten off to a rough start, with the visitors underperforming with the bat and falling short in both contests. If Hardik Pandya’s group of young talents want to stake their claim as the new generation of players going forward, they will need to make a quick turnaround and start producing results.

The batting has been a concern, with the lineups not working out and falling cheaply both in Tarouba and Guyana. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan have both struggled against the new ball, and Rahul Dravid could be tempted to give a white ball debut to Yashasvi Jaiswal, whose IPL exploits and success in the Test series makes him a perfect replacement.

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Sanju Samson has been used lower down the order, but his best spot might be at number 3, and fans might want to see him occupy that role before casting judgement. Suryakumar Yadav has done his best work batting at 4 or 5, and could rotate in those middle-order positions with the impressive Tilak Varma in his debut series. Pandya himself would have to shift down to bat at 6 and has the power-hitting and flexibility to make it work for the team.

Pandya’s bowling has been a huge plus from the first two matches, opening with the new ball and scalping three wickets in the last T20I. Axar Patel adds depth and although he wasn’t used with the ball in the second T20I, he can provide economical control as well as powerplay overs if required.

Arshdeep and Mukesh Kumar might retain their places in Guyana’s sluggish conditions over Umran Malik and Avesh Khan, but giving match-time to all their seamers might be on Pandya and Dravid’s minds.

In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav played the first match but was replaced by Ravi Bishnoi. The left-arm leggie might be brought back to counteract the Windies’ powerful left-handed trio of Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, and Shimron Hetmyer.

India vs West Indies 3rd T20I probable XI:

Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill

Top and middle-order: Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal

Pacers: Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan