India Predicted Playing XI vs West Indies- 1st T20I, 2026: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play?

Can Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make it into IND playing XI vs WI? [Source: AFP]After securing an emphatic 2-1 victory in the three-match ODI series, India are getting ready to take on West Indies in a five-match T20I series on home soil. The first T20I of the series will be played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on October 6, Tuesday. Led by Shreyas Iyer, India recently clinched the gold medal in the Asian Games 2026 final after beating Pakistan in the final. So, the Men in Blue would like to sustain their winning momentum and dominate the Men in Maroon in what promises to be an exciting face-off. As the hosts prepare for the series, we analyse to figure out the India playing XI vs West Indies for 1st T20I at the Ekana Stadium. Openers and top order: Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan KishanSwashbuckling batter Sanju Samson couldn't live up to the expectations in Japan, scoring 18 runs across three innings. Meanwhile, his competitor, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, played an impactful knock in the Asian Games semifinal, finishing the tournament with 53 runs at a strike rate of 176.67. However, the last time Samson played a T20I series at home, he clobbered 117 runs, including two consecutive half-centuries, at a strike rate of 180. He also completed 9000 T20 runs during the 3rd T20I of the series. Therefore, considering his experience and recent performance at home, India will likely persist with Samson for the 1st T20I against West Indies despite his lean run on the spin-friendly pitches of Japan.Abhishek Sharma makes it into the India predicted playing XI vs West Indies for the 1st T20I as the first-choice opener. Abhishek has smashed 1926 runs in 61 T20I innings and is expected to give a flying start to the Men in Blue at the Ekana Stadium. Ishan Kishan could be re-slotted to his preferred number three position in the India playing XI vs West Indies, having accumulated 833 runs at an average of 34.71 and a blistering strike rate of 161.75 at that spot. Middle order and allrounders: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar PatelIndian captain Shreyas Iyer makes it into the India playing XI vs West Indies as the number four batter. Iyer, who has 1513 T20I runs under his belt, is India's third-highest run-scorer after Ishan and Abhishek since taking over the captaincy. Tilak Varma recently powered India to the Asian Games title triumph with a majestic 21-ball fifty in the final against Pakistan. He has 1719 T20I runs and enters the India predicted playing XI vs West Indies as the number five batter. Nitish Reddy returns to the Indian T20I setup after missing the Asian Games. The all-rounder bagged six wickets in three matches against Afghanistan and will likely play as India's first-choice seam-bowling allrounder amid Hardik Pandya's injury. Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Record at Ekana Stadium Ahead of IND vs WI 1st T20IShivam Dube made a massive impact in the Asian Games final, scoring 27 runs and scalping two wickets. He is likely to be slotted at number 7 in the India playing XI vs West Indies as the second seam-bowling allrounder. Washington Sundar was removed from the T20I squad, and in his absence, Axar Patel is expected to retain his place as the spin-bowling allrounder against West Indies. Axar has 764 runs and 109 wickets in his tally across 107 T20I matches. Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep SinghRavi Bishnoi had a torrid run with the ball in Japan, going wicketless across three T20I innings. The right-arm spinner therefore could be replaced by Kuldeep Yadav, who has the most wickets for India against West Indies in T20Is till September 2026 (17). In Jasprit Bumrah's absence, Mayank Yadav enters the India predicted playing XI vs West Indies for the 1st T20I. In his last T20I series against Zimbabwe, Mayank looked in sublime touch, accounting for five wickets in three innings at an economy rate of 6.55. Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will likely make his comeback to the India T20I XI for the West Indies series. With the pitches in Japan suiting spin bowling, India kept Bumrah as their only frontline pacer in the Asian Games. However, Arshdeep, the highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is, will likely get into the team as the leader of the pace attack in Bumrah's absence. India's predicted playing XI vs West Indies- 1st T20I, 2026Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep SinghAlso Read: Sunil Gavaskar Places Sachin Tendulkar-Like Demand Before Rohit Sharma