India looks to test bench strength

The series in its bag, India will have the liberty to experiment in the third and final T20I against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.

With Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant given a two-week break, the home team is likely to include the gifted Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the playing eleven. Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India secured its third successive series win on Friday with an eight-run victory over the West Indies in the second T20I here.

Since the Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia is scheduled in less than eight months’ time, Rohit would look to try out new options, beginning with finding a reserve opener. In the absence of KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan has failed to impress at the top of the order and his place could be given to Gaikwad, who has been warming the bench until now.

Playing the series just after he became the most expensive buy of the IPL 2022 mega auction – he was bought back by Mumbai Indians for a staggering Rs 15.25 crore – Ishan has struggled to get going. After his anxious 42-ball 35 in the first match, Ishan could manage just two runs from 10 balls in the second. It remains to be seen if Rohit gives one more chance to his MI teammate or brings in Gaikwad.

In the middle-order, Shreyas is expected replace Kohli, who has been given a much-needed break ahead of his landmark 100th Test. The former India captain will miss the T20I series against Sri Lanka and will return for the Tests against the ‘Islanders’.

Windies is yet to win a match in the ongoing tour of India, having lost the preceding ODI series 0-3. In its favourite format, the Kieron Pollard-led side failed to impress in the first match but, on Friday, Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran struck explosive half-centuries. Wicketkeeper-batter Pooran has been in imperious form, scoring successive half-centuries, while off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase too has been impressive.