In recent years, the eternal conundrum for Indian cricket has been achieving a balance between long-term planning and short-term results. During their victories at the ODI World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, England demonstrated the value of having a vision without compromising results. It is a pattern that the Indian team is still a long way from mastering as they transition to a period after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The current white-ball leg of the West Indies tour has not gone according to plan for Hardik Pandya’s team. They defeated West Indies in consecutive Twenty20 Internationals for the first time since 2016 after losing two in a succession for the first time since 2016. The fact that this has occurred at a time when the Caribbean side’s morale and squad strength are arguably at their lowest makes the situation much worse for the Indian team.
However, as with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages. India have been able to give Tilak Varma (who has impressed immediately) and Sanju Samson (who has yet to contribute) game time as viable middle-order options despite the lack of results. Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, and Ishan Kishan have also been given opportunities to compete. With next year’s T20 World Cup scheduled for the West Indies and the United States, this series is more of an audition for many of these fringe players to establish their claim for a berth in the tournament.
Hardik will undoubtedly be dissatisfied with his team’s errors in crucial moments during the first two games. India had the advantage to cross the finish line, but they were unable to make the correct decisions when it mattered the most. Particularly, the batting has not met expectations, and it is a crucial area to resolve as the series enters must-win territory. The absence of runs from Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill has been a major setback for the visitors, and both players will be eager to return to form.
The bowling has outperformed expectations to keep India in contention, but the batsmen have not fully acclimated to the two-paced nature of the available surfaces. On these pitches, hitting through the line is not a prudent strategy, and India’s younger batsmen have struggled to adapt. The West Indies bowlers have bowled with the uttermost discipline and precision to stifle the Indian batting order. The performance of the youthful batting unit will once again determine the fate of the final game of the WI leg before the series shifts to the United States.
When
3rd T20I, August 8, 8 PM IST, 10.30 local time
Where
Providence Stadium, Guyana
What to expect
Another spin-friendly surface is expected at Guyana with variable bounce also expected to play a part. The forecast for the week is for rain in Guyana and this could be another key factor in the game.
Team watch
West Indies
Being 2-0 up in the series is a position of strength for the hosts and they’re unlikely to tinker with their playing XI.
Probable XI:
Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (c), Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy
India
With two losses on the bounce, change is inevitable and Yashasvi Jaiswal could finally get a spot in the XI. In such a scenario, Sanju Samson might be the one missing out. Kuldeep Yadav may also return if India decide to rotate Yuzvendra Chahal.
Probable XI:
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Sanju Samson/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar
