4 West Indians who could challenge India in the T20I series

When the West Indies surrendered meekly in the Test series against India, there was an expectation that the Windies would do better in white-ball cricket. They did live up to that expectations in the second and third ODIs. At the end of the third one-day, the series was locked at one all. That was when they lost steam.

They had their moments in the fourth ODI when India lost both Dhawan and Kohli with hardly 100 runs on the board. It was now or never for both the teams. India managed to wrest the initiative through wonderful centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayadu. And that was it for the West Indies in the one-day series.

As both teams gear for the T20 series, the expectations are even bigger now on the West Indies team with the addition of some of their T20 specialists in their squad. Not to forget the fact that the Windies are the world champions in T20 cricket. They are a stronger unit even in the absence of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, and Samuel Badree.

In this article, let us have a look at 4 such players who could challenge India in the T20 series.

#1 Carlos Brathwaite

Brathwaite played an unbelievable inning in the T20 World Cup final

When Ben Stokes was tossed the ball for the final over of the match in the World T20 final at Kolkata, West Indies needed 19 runs for a victory. The relatively unknown Carlos Brathwaite was on strike. Their best batsman of the final Marlon Samuels was not out on 85 at the non-striker's end. England thought it was better not to bowl to Samuels.

West Indies were in an impossible situation. The first ball on the leg stump was swung over the deep backward square. The second ball was a length ball which was hit straight over the bowlers head for a huge six by Brathwaite. Suddenly the match came alive. Now the equation has come down to 7 off 4 balls. Stokes once again tried for the yorker and the ball reached on the full to Brathwaite, who deposited the ball into the stands at long-off.

With just 1 run needed for a win, the only interest of the match was whether Brathwaite could finish off the match with a six. Brathwaite didn’t disappoint the crowd as the fourth ball too was clobbered on the leg side for one more six. Carlos Brathwaite had arrived.

Though Brathwaite could not replicate his World Cup final performance thereafter, he was a constant contributor to the West Indies success in T20 cricket. He is now the Captain and leading all-rounder of the team. For the Indians, Brathwaite would be a tough nut to crack.

#2 Darren Bravo

Darren Bravo has to prove himself in T20 Internationals

Darren Bravo is basically a solid Test match player whose batting style has always been compared to the great Brian Lara. Bravo of late has shown a lot of promise in the Caribbean Premier League 2018.

In CPL 2018, Bravo scored 353 runs for Trinbago Knight Riders at an average of 39 and strike rate of 131. He was the second highest scorer for TKR after Colin Munro. His knock included a 36 ball 94 runs against St Lucia Stars with the help of 10 sixes and 6 fours. In that innings, Bravo hit Kieron Pollard for 5 consecutive sixes to plunder 32 runs in that over. It was due to the efforts of Darren Bravo that TKR won the title for the third time.

For the West Indies, Bravo has played in only 12 T20 Internationals. But on current form, Darren Bravo would be a dangerous customer for India who is capable of scoring quickly and at the same time steadily, if needed.

#3 Shimron Hetymer

Hetymer's attacking instincts best suited for T20 cricket

Hetmyer was the star for the West Indies in the first two ODIs when he scored 106 off 78 balls and 94 off 64 balls. Even in the third ODI, the Windies were in trouble at 55 for 3 before Hetymer came in and smashed 37 off 21 balls.

Hetymer’s cameo shifted the momentum towards the West Indies who reached 283 in the first innings. The West Indies went on to win that match at Pune by 43 runs. When Hetymer failed with the bat in the fourth and fifth ODIs, West Indies lost steam and lost both the matches heavily.

Hetymer is relatively new to T20 Internationals. But his natural attacking instincts as a batsman would make him a more successful player in T20 matches than in other formats of the game.

In CPL 2018, Hetmyer was the third-highest scorer of the tournament with 440 runs at an average of 40 and strike rate of 148. Hetymer is also a superb fielder. If Hetmyer manages to extend his good ODI form into the T20 series, he would be the thorn in India’s flesh.

#4 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard - The most experienced T20 player

Kieron Pollard is the King of T20 franchise cricket. He has played a total of 431 franchisees T20 matches across the world. In 431 matches, Pollard has scored 8511 runs and taken 255 wickets and 245 catches. Pollard is the perfect T20 player who could contribute to the team in all 3 aspects of the game. He is a dangerous finisher capable of playing match-winning cameos.

Pollard too had a successful CPL 2018 when he scored 330 runs in 9 matches at an average of 47 and strike rate of 159.

For the West Indies, Pollard has played 56 T20 Internationals. Pollard’s experience of playing in Indian conditions for Mumbai Indians would come in handy in the current series. Pollard is capable of changing the course of a match through his brilliant fielding and acrobatic catches.

Pollard is the most experienced T20 player in the current West Indian squad and he should be at his best if West Indies fancy their chances of winning the series.

A much more competitive T20 series is in the offing.