India put to bat against West Indies in final T20I at Wankhede Stadium

Indian skipper Virat Kohli lost a crucial toss and has been put to bat first in the third and final T20 International against West Indies in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday (December 11).

While the visitors have kept their squad unchanged, India will be playing Mohammad Shami and Kuldeep Yadav in place of Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Former India cricketer Snehal Pradhan has opined the loss of toss to be a good deal since she feels the Indian squad needs to be put in situations where they have to set totals in high-pressure clashes against strong batting teams.

I'm glad that India are batting first. They need to be put in situations where they have to set totals in high pressure clashes against strong batting teams. Important toss to lose. #INDvWI

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) December 11, 2019

She also tweeted that the two changes in the Indian team clearly show which department they are betting on.

And India are going in a batter short by playing Shami and Kuldeep. It's quite clear on which department they are hedging their bets.

— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) December 11, 2019

Also read: Wankhede to witness India, West Indies in battle of equals in series-finale

Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle took to Twitter to say that he won’t be surprised if the hosts played an extra seamer which he predicted to be Shami.

Won't be surprised if India play an extra seamer at the expense of a spinner today. Most likely Shami. But to win, the batsmen have to cut the six hitting deficit with the West Indies.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 11, 2019

He further said that batting first would be the real challenge for team India as the numbers favour the team batting second for a reason.

Very good toss to win for the West Indies. But this is the real challenge. The numbers favour the team batting second for a reason.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 11, 2019

The Windies leveled the three-match T20 Internationals series in the second game in Thiruvananthapuram where India failed to defend the 170-run target.

The tourists also have fond memories of playing the shortest format games at the Wankhede as in the 2016 ICC World Cup semi-final, they defeated India and went on to win the title.

West Indies have won the toss and will bowl first in the third and final T20I against #TeamIndia.#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/EyOKQn8Poa

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 11, 2019

Teams

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (capt), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami

West Indies: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (capt), Jason Holder, Khary Pierre, Kesrick Williams, Sheldon Cottrell, Hayden Walsh Jr.