Rain Threat Looms Over India–West Indies Decisive T20 In Bengaluru, Cool Winds Expected Before Match
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Bengaluru: India and West Indies are set to clash in the fifth and deciding match of their men’s T20 series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here today, with the match scheduled to begin at 7 pm. However, rain threatens to spoil the excitement for millions of cricket fans.
According to the weather forecast, there is a strong possibility of rain during or around the scheduled match hours this evening. Cool winds are expected to blow between 4 pm and 4.30 pm, followed by a spell of rain within the next two to two-and-a-half hours. Given these conditions, even the scheduled toss at 6.30 pm could be delayed.
Bengaluru is expected to record a temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius, with cloudy skies throughout the evening. However, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts one of the best drainage systems among cricket grounds in the country, meaning the ground could be made ready for play without much delay once the rain stops.
India Need to Fix Batting Concerns
Under Shai Hope’s leadership, the Caribbean side have made two impressive comebacks in the ongoing T20 series to level it at 2-2. If Hope manages to keep his composure and lead from the front on Saturday, West Indies could find the path to victory relatively straightforward. India, meanwhile, need to address their batting shortcomings under captain Shreyas Iyer.
In the bowling department, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could get an opportunity to replace the injured Arshdeep Singh. There would also be little surprise if left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav returns to the playing XI for this series decider.
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have struggled to deliver consistently, while Ishan Kishan’s batting has also become a cause for concern. Against this backdrop, there was considerable discussion among Indian cricket circles about whether Vaibhav Suryavanshi would get a chance to play on Saturday.
India’s Updated Squad
India and West Indies are locked at 2-2 in the series, setting the stage for a decisive fifth T20 international.
India squad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav.
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