Forget that Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard play for the same Indian T20 League franchise and the pre-series advertisement where the two unfollow each other on social media. There will be no love lost as India and West Indies head into each other in what will be a tightly contested T20I series. Here we help the Nostragamus fantasy managers with some crucial player picks for this week in the only International series coming your way.
KL RAHUL
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs West Indies, T20Is
With Shikhar Dhawan ruled out of the series, it is a golden opportunity for Rahul to cement his spot at the top in the T20I side. India aren't totally convinced with Dhawan's T20I utility and Rahul might want to cash in. He had made 291 runs in 7 games at an average of 58.2 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament which concluded on Sunday. For India since 2018 in T20Is, Rahul has 516 runs at 36.85 and a strike rate of 143.33 with a century and three half-centuries.
MANISH PANDEY
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs West Indies, T20Is
Talk all you want about Manish Pandey's inconsistency, but the middle-order batsman is a beast in this shortest format and with the batting slim for this series, he is likely to get a good run. In terrific form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, Manish's strike rate and consistency in this format is simply mind-blowing. For India, he averages 58 in 17 T20Is since 2018 and will want to maximise his chance when it comes this time around.
NICHOLAS POORAN
Country: West Indies
Match/Series: India vs West Indies, T20Is
Among the most exciting T20 talents in world cricket now, Nicholas Pooran can do the unthinkable from the middle-order. There was ample evidence of his potential in the recently concluded ODI series against Afghanistan in Lucknow where he took on their slew of spinners with conviction. Pooran was in good nick in the Caribbean Premier League where he averaged 38.4 and struck at a rate of 150. The left-hander will be a key figure in West Indies' T20I side for this series.
Read | India vs West Indies: Who makes it to the combined T20 XI?
KULDEEP YADAV
Country: India
Match/Series: India vs West Indies, T20Is
Back in the T20I setup after a short hiatus, Kuldeep Yadav will be keenly watched this series. Though India have preferred their finger spinners in recent times, Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal form one of the most potent pairs in limited-overs cricket and a return before the T20 World Cup looms. Kuldeep, despite recent concerns about his form, has 23 wickets in 10 T20I matches since 2018 at an average of 10.08 and an economy just over 6. That's as impressive as it gets in terms of numbers.
KEEMO PAUL
Country: West Indies
Match/Series: India vs West Indies, T20Is
A largely underrated fast bowler in this format of the game, Keemo Paul has a slew of cutters and slower balls along with pinpoint yorkers that make him a rather difficult proposition in the shortest format of the game. Since 2018, he has 24 wickets in 18 T20Is - the second-most amongst these two teams after Chahal - while conceding runs at an economy of 8.3. His strike rate makes up for his poor economy and in terms of fantasy, there are few better picks than him among bowlers.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks
