SportsPosted at: Oct 5 2026 6:02PM


India return from Asian Games gold to face West Indies in five-match T20I series

Tridib Baparnash
New Delhi, Oct 5 (UNI) Three days after clinching Asian Games gold in Japan, India will begin a five-match T20I series against the West Indies, starting at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday. There is a familiar feel to the schedule ahead: just five days after the series concludes in Bengaluru, India will travel to Christchurch to take on New Zealand.
With Gautam Gambhir taking over the coaching reins from VVS Laxman, who was in charge at the continental showpiece, the series will offer an insight into the team’s changing tactical approach. Both coaches favour batting depth extending to No. 8, but Gambhir could have a different take on the composition of the playing XI, particularly at the top of the order.
Laxman opted for an aggressive top order during the Asian Games, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and world No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma opening the innings and Sanju Samson coming in at No. 3. The combination was chosen with the challenging surfaces at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin City in mind, where India needed to maximise their scoring opportunities.
The conditions at the Ekana Stadium are expected to be more conducive to batting, which could prompt Gambhir to bring Samson back as an opener. The availability of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy further strengthens India's batting depth and gives the team greater flexibility in its selection.
Samson did not appear entirely comfortable at No. 3 in the two matches he played during the Asian Games. However, he showed his value as a top-order batter with two half-centuries in India's last home T20I series against Afghanistan.
With Abhishek an automatic choice at the top, Gambhir will have to decide whether Samson or Sooryavanshi partners the left-hander. The middle order already has several options in Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Reddy, with Axar Patel adding further depth. Fitting both Samson and Sooryavanshi into the same XI could therefore prove difficult.
The pace attack presents another selection challenge. Arshdeep Singh brings experience, but the Delhi duo of Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav have played only six and three T20Is, respectively. Axar and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to lead the spin department.
If Gambhir wants additional batting cover, Naman Dhir, who has replaced Washington Sundar in the squad, could come into contention at the expense of one of the two young pacers. India could also explore Abhishek's left-arm spin as an additional option after he picked up wickets at the Asian Games.
Iyer faces bigger test against Windies
The series will also be a crucial test of Iyer's leadership against a formidable opponent. India have registered T20I series wins against lower-ranked teams such as Zimbabwe and Afghanistan under his captaincy, but the West Indies present a different challenge.
The Caribbean side have won the T20 World Cup twice, in 2012 and 2016, and possess the kind of power-hitters and experienced all-rounders who can change a game in a matter of overs. India, however, can draw confidence from their recent home record, having won nine of their last 10 T20I encounters against the West Indies on Indian soil.
Led by Shai Hope, the visitors have several players familiar with Indian conditions through their IPL stints. Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer and Akeal Hosein bring considerable experience in the shortest format, while Sherfane Rutherford adds another dangerous option with the bat.
Hope will be central to the visitors' plans, but much will also depend on the power-hitting of Hetmyer, Powell and Rutherford. Their ability to accelerate in the middle and death overs could put India's bowling attack under pressure.
The West Indies also have plenty of depth in their all-rounders, with Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Powell and Shepherd offering options with both bat and ball. Hosein and Shamar Joseph are likely to spearhead the bowling attack, while left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and Chase provide additional variety.
Jangoo added to WI squad
Amir Jangoo has been added to the West Indies T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against India as cover for Jewel Andrew, who sustained a finger injury during the third ODI on Saturday. The injury occurred while Andrew was completing the catch of Naman Dhir at cover off Gudakesh Motie in the 36th over of India’s innings.
Jangoo brings strong recent form into the T20I setup. While he has featured in seven T20Is since making his international debut in December 2024, it was his performances in the ODI series against India that earned plenty of attention. He scored an unbeaten 58 in the opening ODI, followed it with 114 in the second and added 67 in the third to finish the series with 239 runs.
Squads:
India: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Naman Dhir, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson (WK), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Mayank Yadav.
West Indies: Shai Hope (C, WK), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer, Amir Jangoo.UNI TB AAB
Tags: #India return from Asian Games gold to face West Indies in five-match T20I series
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