The Indian team has gone to the West Indies to participate in a five-match ‘T20I’ series. The first match took place in Trinidad. Aljari Joseph made his debut in the West Indies team. Captain Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh returned to the Indian XI. West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran won the toss and chose to field.
Captain Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav gave a good start to the Indian team. Suryakumar (24) was dismissed by Akhel Hossain when he added 44 runs for the first wicket. Shreyas (0) cheated. Rishabh Pant (14) did not last.
Rohit hit 2 consecutive fours in the 12th over bowled by Alzari Joseph to reach his fifty. Hardik Pandya (1) and Ravindra Jadeja (16) were out at Joseph ‘speed’. Rohit, who played tremendously, was dismissed for 64 runs (2 sixes, 7 fours).
Tamil Nadu’s Dinesh Karthik and Ashwin played in charge. In the 19th over bowled by Holder, Ashwin 2, Karthik a six, a boundary, 21 runs. Karthik followed with a six and 2 fours in the last over bowled by McCoy.
Indian team scored 190 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs. Karthik (41) and Ashwin (13) were not out. Joseph took 2 wickets for West Indies.
Ashwin Abaram:
Kyle Meyers (15) and Shamar Brooks (20) deceived West Indies who chased down a challenging target. Jason Holder was ‘tucked-out’. Captain Pooran (18) and Shimran Hedmire (14) got caught in Ashwin’s ‘spin’. Raoman Pavel (11) and Odion Smith (0) were out in the Bishnoi ball. Akhel Hossain (11) did not last.
West Indies lost only 122 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. Keemo Paul (19) and Alzari Joseph (5) were not out. The Indian team took a 1-0 lead. Dinesh Karthik was chosen as the man of the match. As the second match. 1 will be held in St. Kitts.