Chennai: With the series already sealed, India might test its bench strength and aim for a clean sweep, while the battered and bruised West Indies would be hoping for a face saving victory and sign off their disastrous tour on a fine note, as the two teams lock horns in the third and final T-20 International at the M A Chidambaram stadium here on Sunday.
With the selectors resting key bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav keeping in mind the tough tour of Australia, the match would provide a chance for the other players like local lad and offie Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, uncapped Shahbaz Nadeem and medium pacer Siddarth Kaul, drafted into the side for the final match, to make a mark.
The crowd favourite M S Dhoni, for whom Chennai was a second home, might not be present, but sportive fans would root for skipper Rohit Sharma who was in sublime having lit up the Deepavali crowd in Lucknow with his fireworks enroute to his fourth T-20 century, the maximum by an Indian, that helped the home take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Sunday’s contest provides one last chance for players like Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, local star Dinesh Karthik and others to be among the runs and be in good form before embarking for the tour Down Under.
Apart from Bhuvanesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed who have performed well in the earlier matches, would be the pace spearheads, while Krunal Pandya and another wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was expected to replace Kuldeep, to lead the spin front.
West Indies, on the other hand, having lost the test, ODIs (despite forcing a tie) and the T-20 series, would play for pride and hope for a face saving to sign off the tour on a victorious note.
Much would depend on key players like Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramadin, Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmeyer to be among the runs, while Oshane Thomas would once again shoulder the responsibility of the pace department.
With the expected North East Monsoon rains keeping away and the city reeling under hot sun, the Chepauk wicket is expected to be batsmen-friendly, promising a cracker of a contest.
Teams: India (from): Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, K L Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Krunal Pandya, M Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shahbaz Nadeem, Siddarth Kaul.
West Indies (from): Carlos Brathwaite (Captain), Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Obede McCoy, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas. (UNI)
