Rishabh Pant Beats Dinesh Karthik To Wicketkeeping Spot As India Announce 12 For 1st T20I vs Windies
Rishabh Pant was given the wicketkeeping duties ahead of the experienced Dinesh Karthik for the 1st T20I between India and the Windies.
Highlights
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India announce 12 for 1st T20I against the Windies
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Pant named as the wicketkeeper for the Indian team
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Eden Gardens will host the 1st T20I on Sunday
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 12 for India that will take on the Windies in the first of the three-match Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) on Sunday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Rishabh Pant was given the wicketkeeping duties for India ahead of the experienced Dinesh Karthik. MS Dhoni is not part of the Indian team after being left out of the squad for the T20I series against the Windies and Australia. Selectors said the decision to leave out Dhoni was made to shore up India's back up options behind the stumps, and going by the team announced on Saturday evening, Pant is ahead of Karthik in the race for the wicketkeeping spot.
"The Indian team management has named the 12 ahead of the first T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. After winning the Test series 2-0 and a comprehensive 3-1 victory in the recently concluded ODI series, the Indian Cricket Team will now play Windies in the three-match Paytm T20I Series," the BCCI said in a statement.
Karthik might yet get into the playing XI as a specialist batsman. Manish Pandey and Krunal Pandya could also get into the team for Sunday but that will depend on whether or not India go in with five specialist bowlers.
Umesh Yadav has been left out with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Khaleel Ahmed picked as the pace trio with Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav veubf chosen as frontline spinners.
If India decide to leave either Kuldeep or Chahal out or go in with the two pacers instead of three then Krunal Pandya could be in with a chance of making his T20I debut for India.
Captain Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are set to open for India with KL Rahul primed to come at one-down in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the series.
The following players have been selected for the 1st T2OI.
India 12: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal.
India Cricket Team
West Indies Cricket Team
Dinesh Karthik
MS Dhoni