IND vs WI 1st T20I Playing XI : The first match of five T20 matches between India and West Indies is to be played today at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. In this match, a tough competition can be seen between both the teams, because powerhitters are present in both the camps. At the same time, the circumstances will be different for the Indian team returning home after the Asian Games 2026. Along with this, some players will join the team, who did not go to Japan. In such a situation, there is every possibility of change in the playing eleven.
Read :- IND vs WI 1st T20I: India and West Indies will clash in the first T20 of the series today, know when and where you will be able to watch the live match.
It is difficult for Vaibhav Suryavanshi to get a chance
India's strategy of including Vaibhav Suryavanshi as an extra batsman instead of Arshdeep Singh's fast bowling proved to be a masterstroke during the Asian Games 2026 on the slow pitches of Nisshin, where batting was very difficult. But on home ground, Team India will return to its old combination, in which Arshdeep will take command of the bowling in place of resting Jasprit Bumrah. Whereas, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will be seen starting the innings. Sanju had scored two consecutive half-centuries against Afghanistan at home. In such a situation, it is expected that his place will remain in the top order.
As a spin bowler, Kuldeep Yadav may get a chance in the team in place of Ravi Bishnoi as the main wrist-spinner, who had to struggle a lot against Pakistan in the final of the Asian Games. At the same time, either Prince Yadav or Mayank Yadav, who knows the conditions of Lucknow as an LSG player, may get a chance in the team. Along with this, Nitish Kumar Reddy is also expected to be included in the playing XI.
India's probable playing eleven
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Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Shivam Dubey, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav/Mayank Yadav.
How is the Lucknow pitch?
It is expected to rain for some time during the day, but the weather is expected to remain clear at the time of the match. The pitch at Ekana has always been a topic of discussion: in the last full T20I match played here in 2023, it took India 19.5 overs to reach the 100-run target against New Zealand, but the pitch was then reworked. Two different types of situations were seen in IPL 2026.
Unlike the easier pitches at most other venues, the Lucknow pitch was very helpful to the bowlers in the first half. Here the fast bowlers were benefiting from the movement and bounce of the ball, while the pitch became quite flat in the second half. There may be some moisture in the pitch due to the possibility of rain, so the seam bowlers are expected to get some help in the initial overs.