India have been on a roll in the shortest format of the game since the start of 2016, whitewashing Australia in January, defeating Sri Lanka at home, and recently lifting Asia Cup silverware for a record-breaking sixth time, after an unbeaten run in the tournament. The MS Dhoni-led India take on West Indies in the first warmup game of the ICC World T20 2016 at the iconic Eden Gardens, Thursday.
[Get the final score and report of India vs West Indies HERE]
Dhoni will look to test his bench strength in the two warmup games against West Indies and South Africa. These are the games where Pawan Negi, Harbhajan Singh and Ajinkya Rahane will get opportunities to prove their mettle.
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Mohammad Shami's return to training is a good sign for India. Team India director Ravi Shastri confirmed, Wednesday, that Shami will be playing this warmup game against West Indies at the Eden Gardens.
Shami, who has not played an international game after the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2015, will be seen in action, Wednesday. The India captain and the team management is hopeful that Shami will gain match fitness ahead of India's first game against New Zealand on March 15. But before that he will have to prove his fitness. The Team India physios are constantly working with him so that India get a major boost ahead of the start of the main stage of the ICC World T20.
Meanwhile, West Indies have struggled in Tests and ODIs in recent times and their chance at redemption is the ICC World T20 2016. They had a preparatory camp in Dubai. The Caribbeans will play two warm up game against India and Australia.
Captain Darren Sammy will look to find a settled combination before they take on England in their first game of the ICC World T20 2016 campaign.
West Indies will be without the likes of Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Sunil Narine. Despite these names not featuring in the West Indies squad, Sammy and co. have a pretty formidable lineup, capable of putting up a great show in the big-ticket tournament.
Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher and Marlon Samuels are capable of turning games in their favour almost single-handedly.
India are the favourites to win the ICC World T20 2016. Looking at Virat Kohli and the rest of the team's current run of form, West Indies will have a tough time against the Men in Blue, Thursday.
India have entered the competition as the No.1 team in the world in the shortest format of the game. MS Dhoni will want his side to hold on to that position till the end of the ICC World T20 2016.
Squads:
India: MS Dhoni (C & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Shami, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh, Hardik Pandya.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (C), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle,Jason Holder, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Johnson Charles, Evin Lewis.
Where to follow live updates:
Unfortunately, there will be no channels broadcasting the ICC World T20 2016 warmup game between India and West Indies. The live streaming option is also not available.
But the fans of the international game can follow the live score updates of India vs West Indies on the ICC official website.
The live score updates of India v West Indies can also be followed HERE.
