The first T20I between India and West Indies is underway at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. They have provided an opportunity to youngsters in the first match, with the ICC T20 World Cup around the corner. However, the exclusion of batter Deepak Hooda and wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan from the playing XI has left the fans disappointed.
India is coming into the five-match T20I series after a whitewash against the same opposition in the ODI series. They will be keen to continue the winning momentum in the T20I series. The Rohit Sharma-led team included Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI for the first T20I. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer was picked ahead of in-form batter Deepak Hooda and Ishan Kishan.
🚨 Here's #TeamIndia's Playing XI 👇
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/qWZ7LSCVXA #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/F5lu3EZy3N
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 29, 2022
Hooda has probably been in the form of his life for India off-late. He averages 68.33 in six T20Is this year, scoring 205 runs at a strike rate of 172.26. His run tally includes a century against Ireland last month. In the absence of senior players, Deepak Hooda has grabbed his opportunities with both hands so far this year.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has also done well for India at the top of the order. This year, he has scored 419 runs in thirteen T20Is at an average of 32.23 and strike rate of 132.17, with three half-centuries to his name.
Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda’s exclusion:
Unable to understand the faults done by Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda.#INDvsWIt20 #Kishan #hooda
— Vageesh Dinkar (@VAGEESHDINKAR) July 29, 2022
Where is Ishan Kishan?😡😡😡
Our puket dinomo still not playing😠😠☹😡#BycottBCCI#BycottCricket pic.twitter.com/vvOQfdH2Wv— Jyran⚘ (@Jyran45) July 29, 2022
Disappointed for Ishan Kishan, was finally batting close to his bat. Got into the top 10 of the T20I rankings but has now become the third back up opener.
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) July 29, 2022
Most Exiting batter in Indian Side to accelerate- #Deepakhooda who can bowl too is dropped for #ShreyasIyer, what else Hooda can do.. ( #IndiavsWI)
— Speaks Truth (@Baby10007) July 29, 2022
How is Shreyas Iyer ahead of Deepak Hooda in the pecking order for the T20IS right now, especially when next world cup is in Australia?
Everyone knows his struggles against Short Ball and Hooda has already done well in the limited opportunities he has gotten so far.#WIvIND
— Akash Kumar Jha (@Akashkumarjha14) July 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/saurabhbxr5/status/1553022760711901184?s=20&t=z0OmJwFwIOhWrPYg-lcC9w
https://twitter.com/Rahulc7official/status/1553022613579976706?s=20&t=z0OmJwFwIOhWrPYg-lcC9w
Deepak Hooda's last 3 scores were 47*(29), 104(57), and 33(17).
Doesn't deserve to miss out on
games like these when he's done so well in the chances he got.— ab // 42nd marr do yaar (@ydisskolaveridi) July 29, 2022
Deepak Hooda at the moment. pic.twitter.com/22llVllR0N
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) July 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/Paritosh_2016/status/1553025495242944514?s=20&t=3OQHTqXUPuR7M1iWL1oCmg
When u have specialist opener Ishan Kishan then why are u betting on Rishab Pant as opener after two failures
— Venkat (@KonduparthiVR) July 29, 2022
Why so mean towards ishan kishan..?
— Ganesh Siva (@ganeshsiva_92) July 29, 2022
West Indies wins the toss and asks India to bat first
West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss in the first T20I and asked India to bat first. Alzarri Joseph made his debut in the match, while the West Indies brought back Shimron Hetmyer. On the other hand, India experimented with Suryakumar Yadav as the opener along with Rohit Sharma.
The opening partnership put on a quick-fire 44 in the first few overs, before Suryakumar got out for 24 runs. India’s number three for the match, Shreyas Iyer soon followed the opener back in the pavilion for a duck. India is 45/2 in 5.5 overs at the Brian Lara Stadium against West Indies.
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