IND vs WI: The first T20I of the five-match series between India and West Indies was played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Thursday, February 16, 2023. The West Indies won the match by four runs.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to bat first. The hosts got off to a good start, with openers Nicholas Pooran and Kyle Mayers putting on 50 for the first wicket. Pooran top-scored for the West Indies with 41 off 34 balls, while Mayers made 24.
The West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, but Jason Holder (27 off 20) and Romario Shepherd (25 off 16) helped them post a competitive total of 149 for six.
In reply, India got off to a good start, with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson putting on 44 for the first wicket. However, the Indian innings lost momentum after Samson was run out for 12.
Tilak Varma made his T20I debut in the match, and he made a very impressive start to his international career. Varma scored 39 runs off 22 balls, with three sixes and two fours. He showed great maturity and composure for a player of his age, and he will be hoping to build on this performance in the upcoming matches.
The West Indies bowlers bowled well in the death overs, and India were eventually restricted to 145 for nine.
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Man of the match: Jason Holder (West Indies)
Jason Holder was the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies, taking two wickets for 19 runs. Obed McCoy and Romario Shepherd also took two wickets each.
India lost the first T20I against West Indies by four runs, but they still have a good chance of winning the rest of the series. India has a strong batting lineup, led by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. These batsmen have all been in good form in recent months, and they will be looking to score big runs against the West Indies bowlers.
India’s bowling attack is also capable of taking wickets. Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in the world, and he will be looking to lead the attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar are also experienced bowlers who can take wickets in the middle overs.
The West Indies have a good batting lineup as well, led by Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard. These batsmen are capable of scoring big runs, and they will be looking to put India under pressure. However, the West Indies bowling attack is not as strong as India’s, and they will need to bowl well if they want to win the series.
Overall, India has a good chance of winning the rest of the T20I series against West Indies. They have a strong batting lineup and a good bowling attack. If they can play to their potential, they should be able to win the series.
The series continues with the second T20I on February 18 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.