2nd T20I: Holder replaces Allen as Windies bowl against unchanged India

All-rounder Jason Holder has been cleared fit as the West Indies look for a first of the tour and level the three-match series in the second T20I at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Friday. West Indies captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and chose to bowl, hoping the dew factor in the second innings helps tilt the balance in their favour. 

Holder, who starred in last month’s 3-2 T20I series win against England in the Caribbean, missed out on the series opener against India on Wednesday with an injury in his left ankle.

But the 30-year-old is fit to play, skipper Pollard said at the toss, adding spinner Fabian Allen makes way for the former Test captain. 

On his decision to bowl first, Pollard said it was a “good track” and noted there was a bit of a dew factor in the previous game. “We will try to bowl first and limit them to a low total. Continue to execute our skills,” Pollard said. 

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Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed his side are unchanged from the six-wicket win on Wednesday. 

“We need to get back to our basics. It is a lightning outfield. Understand the game situation. Bat freely and see what we need to do after powerplay. As a team, we want to improve in all departments. Whether we finish the game clinically or not, we need to keep improving,” Sharma said at the toss. 

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The West Indies had another disappointing outing with the bat in the series opener on Wednesday, with Nicholas Pooran’s 43-ball 63 helping the tourists set an under-par 158-run target. 

Rohit Sharma led the chase with a 19-ball 40, before Venkatesh Iyer (24*) and Suryakumar Yadav (34*) completed the chase. Debutant Ravi Bishnoi was named man of the match for his figures of 2/17 from four overs. 

Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (w), Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal

West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (w), Rovman Powell, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Sheldon Cottrell