The West Indies cricket team has announced its 15-player squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India. The team is gearing up for next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which they will co-host alongside the USA. With a focus on building a solid unit, the West Indies selectors have recalled experienced wicket-keeper batter Shai Hope and fast bowler Oshane Thomas to bolster their lineup.
Shai Hope, who currently captains the West Indies in 50-over cricket, has been named to the T20I squad after a hiatus of over a year from the shortest format. His last T20I appearance for the team was in February of the previous year. This recall presents an excellent opportunity for Hope to showcase his skills and cement his place in the T20 side.
Oshane Thomas, the talented fast bowler, is also set to return to international cricket after a gap of nearly two years. His previous T20I appearance was in December 2021, and the upcoming series will allow him to display his pace and aggression on the international stage again.
Experienced batter Rovman Powell has been entrusted with leading the West Indies throughout the series. This isn’t the first time Powell has taken on the captaincy role, and his experience and leadership qualities will be crucial in guiding the team to success.
The West Indies squad boasts an array of explosive talents, including Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and vice-captain Kyle Mayers. These players are known for their ability to change the course of a game with their aggressive style of play and will be instrumental in the team’s success during the T20I series.
Despite missing out on qualifying for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, the West Indies are determined to make their mark in next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The T20I series against India will be essential to their preparation for the global event. Chief selector and West Indies legend Desmond Haynes emphasized the importance of building the right combinations and developing a winning unit.
“The squad is selected with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in mind. We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations. As we prepare, we are looking to build a unit that we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year. We have some match-winners in our line-up, and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday,” chief selector and West Indies great Desmond Haynes said.
West Indies T20I squad: Rovman Powell (c), Kyle Mayers (vc), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas
India T20I squad: Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Surya Kumar Yadav (vc), Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (c), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
Schedule:
August 3: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad
August 6: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana
August 8: 3rd T20I, National Stadium Guyana
August 12: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
August 13: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
