Shamar Joseph & Roston Chase celebrating a wicket (Source: AFP Photos)West Indies, just after winning the third and final ODI in Mullanpur, will be in action once again against India on Tuesday (October 6) for the first of the five-match T20I series. Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium will host the series opener, with the match scheduled to get underway at 7 PM IST.India Vs West Indies 1st T20I PreviewThanks to Shai Hope’s extraordinary knock, the West Indies will be high on confidence ahead of IND vs WI T20Is. Even though there will be plenty of familiar faces returning to the mix who were not in the ODIs, Hope will continue leading the side with an aim to stun the opposition in their own backyard.India, on the other hand, will enter IND vs WI T20Is after winning the Gold medal at the Asian Games under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. Despite the fact that they lost to the West Indies in the 3rd T20I, it will be a whole new squad compared to the 50-over setup, so it does not matter much to them.How can West Indies form their playing XI against India? Let’s take a deeper look at that.West Indies Likely Playing XI vs India- 1st T20I, 2026Openers And Top Order: Kamil Pooran, Shai Hope (C/WK), Shimron HetmyerJust like the 3rd ODI, Shai Hope will continue opening for the West Indies in T20Is. However, Jewel Andrew, in all likelihood, will not be there to kick off the proceedings.As Andrew is unfit, West Indies might give Kamil Pooran a golden chance to shine. Pooran made 273 runs across eight innings in CPL 2026 while coming to open. He also had a strike rate of 159.65.At No. 3, the West Indies might promote Shimron Hetmyer to No. 3, just like T20 World Cup 2026. Besides, Hetmyer has an excellent T20I record in India, averaging 30.8 with 462 runs across 16 innings.Middle-Order And All-Rounders: Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Akeal HoseinThe West Indies middle order looks absolutely stacked, with Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, and Romario Shepherd in the mix. Any of Rutherford, Powell and Shepherd has the capability of turning the tide single-handedly, while Chase can give them an anchoring role if they collapse.Also Read: India Fined More Than West Indies As ICC Announces Punishment After ODI SeriesTo help them, Akeal Hosein is expected to be there. He can be superb lower down the order with the bat, but more than that, he is a primary new-ball bowler for West Indies.Bowlers: Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar JosephShamar Joseph, who knows Ekana's conditions well due to his previous Lucknow Super Giants stint, and Matthew Forde will likely be the West Indies' out-and-out pace duo. They will have the support of Gudakesh Motie, who took 13 wickets in 11 matches in CPL 2026 at an economy rate of 8.79.If that happens, the likes of Shamar Springer, Keemo Paul, Quentin Sampson and newly joined Amir Jangoo have to wait for their chances.West Indies' Predicted Playing XI vs West Indies For 1st T20IKamil Pooran, Shai Hope (C/WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar JosephAlso Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Record at Ekana Stadium Ahead of IND vs WI 1st T20I
