India's predicted playing XI for 3rd T20I - (Source: AFP)A high-scoring thriller in Ranchi saw West Indies pull off the 2nd highest run-chase in T20I cricket. The Windies chased a target of 250 with 9 balls in hand to level the series 1-1. The caravan now moves to Indore, where the two heavyweights will collide on Sunday.India have very little time between the two T20Is to restrategise, but following the 2nd T20I, it feels that the mangement will opt for a few changes to test their combination and bench strength.Therefore, this article will shed light on India’s predicted playing XI vs West Indies for the 3rd T20I.Openers and top order: Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan KishanIndia will go ahead with the same top-order, meaning that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait more for his chance. Sanju Samson was India’s leading run-scorer in the 2nd T20I as he scored 82 (41), which featured 9 fours and 4 sixes. Sanju will open the innings with Abhishek Sharma, who got off to a great start but failed to convert it into a big score. At No.3, Ishan Kishan has been doing great. Playing at his home ground, Kishan scored a quickfire 43 (22), which featured 6 fours and two sixes.Middle order and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar PatelIndia captain Shreyas Iyer is in great form, and he will bat at No.4. The right-handed batter scored a century in the 1st T20I and followed it up with a quickfire 40 (18), batting at a strike rate of 222.Tilak Verma also silenced his critics who questioned his strike-rate. The Mumbai Indians’ star batter scored 44 (18) and had the best strike rate among the Indian batters. Verma’s hat-trick of sixes in the 20th over of the game helped India put 249 runs on the board.Naman Dhir has not been presented with enough opportunity to showcase his batting talent, but the team is utilising his all-round abilities. Dhir has been used more as a bowler in this series than a batter. The MI star picked up 3 wickets on his debut. Further, Gautam Gambhir believes in presenting longer run to a player before making changes, indicating that Dhir will be part of the playing XI for the entire series. ALSO READSanju Samson Joins Virat Kohli; Slams Joint-Fastest T20I Fifty By An Indian vs West IndiesOne change that India might make for the 3rd T20I is to bench Shivam Dube. The CSK star scored just 7 runs at the Ranchi track and gave away 30 runs in his 2 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy might replace him in Indore.Rest, Axar Patel will bat at No.8. He will be the sole spinner, who has been doing well with the ball in the powerplay and now also at the death. However, he had a troublesome outing in the 2nd T20I, giving away 63 runs in 3.3 overs.Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank YadavIndia might opt for three genuine pacers for the 3rd T20I, which means that Kuldeep Yadav will have to sit out the bench despite picking up a wicket in Ranchi. Prince Yadav will most likely replace him ,who is yet to play a solitary match in the series.Rest, Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav will be the two seamers. Mayank was the pick of the bowlers in the 2nd game as he took two wickets in the opening over of the game. Overall, he took a three-wicket haul.India's predicted playing XI vs West Indies- 3rd T20I, 2026Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank YadavALSO READWill O'Rourke Ruled Out Of India Tour Of New Zealand 2026 With Injury
