India rested four key players – skipper Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Suryakumar Yadav – for the fifth T20I against West Indies at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday. The Men in Blue have already won the five-match affair 3-1. 

India’s stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bat. Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh have been added to the team’s playing 11. 

Also read: CWG 2022: SWOT analysis of Indian women cricket team

“We want to bat. We saw how the wicket slowed down yesterday. We want to bat on a fresher wicket. We are like we are not playing at Miami. 99 percent of the fans are supporting India. No matter what happens, we have set some standards for the Indian cricket team. We need to go out there and showcase our skill set. Obviously, the coach, the captain and senior members have done some tremendous job. 4 changes to the team,” Indian captain Pandya said at the toss. 

Also read: India women’s cricket team’s journey in Commonwealth Games 2022

West Indies also go to the game with four changes. Brooks, Walsh, Odean Smith and Keemo Paul were added to their playing 11. 

“We wanted to bat first but that’s fine. We have four changes. Brooks, Walsh, Odean Smith and Keemo Paul have come in. We have to prepare for the WC. This is a fresh group and India is a great team as well. The venue was small at St. Kitts and hence Walsh wasn’t included. But we know when we do need a spin option, we have them,” skipper Nicholas Pooran said at the toss. 

Also read: Hardik Pandya to pip Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul for India’s permanent T20 vice-captaincy: Report

Teams:

West Indies (Playing XI): Shamarh Brooks, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(c), Devon Thomas(w), Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Keemo Paul, Dominic Drakes, Obed McCoy, Hayden Walsh, Rovman Powell

India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh