West Indies will have a chance to get back to the shortest format when the Windies take on India in the first T20I at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on October 6. West Indies will be looking to put behind them their recent 2-1 series defeat against India in the ODI leg and kick off the five-match T20I series on a winning note.
Lucknow is a place where West Indies have had a long stay, as they spent two-and-a-half months in the city during their 2019 tour. As the hosts, Afghanistan were using the home ground advantage for the first time since the stadium opened, and West Indies played a series of one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is in Lucknow. Kieron Pollard captained the West Indies white-ball team, with Rashid Khan leading Afghanistan's charges.
West Indies face a tough T20I challenge in Lucknow
The Caribbean side had gained valuable experience of the conditions during that tour, although their T20I campaign ended in disappointment. Afghanistan won the three-match series 2–1, giving West Indies mixed memories of their previous outings at the venue.
Their overall T20I record at the Ekana Stadium also adds to the challenge ahead. West Indies managed to win only once and suffer three defeats after playing four T20Is at the ground. India, on the other hand, have a better record, having won three of their four T20Is at the venue.
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The West Indies squad returned to the ground this week for their preparations ahead of the series opener. During an October afternoon training session, Quinton Sampson, Akeal Hosein, Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd were among those spotted at the nets. Around seven to eight members of the squad participated as the visitors began adapting to the conditions once again.
The T20I squad also presents a younger and more explosive profile in comparison to the ODI side. West Indies have some power-hitters, athletic fielders and attacking bowling options, capable of changing the momentum of a game within a few overs. They will hope the shorter format allows them to play freely as well as put India under sustained pressure.
Meanwhile, Powell and Shepherd provide a considerable amount of power in the middle and lower order, while Akeal Hosein's left-arm spin may prove crucial if the Lucknow surface offers assistance to slower bowlers. The visitors are expected to adopt an aggressive approach, with fearless batting and attacking options through the middle overs, likely to form the core of their strategy.