Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Akeal Hosein has acknowledged the challenge India pose but insisted West Indies will not be intimidated as the two sides begin their five-match T20I series in Lucknow on Tuesday. India enter the series after winning the preceding ODI contest 2-1, while West Indies will be looking to build on their strong finish to that series.
West Indies have historically struggled in T20Is in India. They have won only two of their 12 T20Is on Indian soil in bilateral series, while India have dominated the overall head-to-head record, winning 20 of the 31 matches between the teams.
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But Hosein believes the visitors have no reason to back down. He said the series will ultimately come down to which team plans better and executes those plans more effectively.
“They (India) know the brand of cricket we play. We know they’re a dangerous team but we’re not going to back down as well,” Hosein said at the pre-match press conference.
“Both teams are looking forward to the challenge. It’s just about who plans it best and who executes it best. We’re going to focus on the things that we can control.”
INDIA’S TOP ORDER A MAJOR THREAT
One of West Indies’ biggest challenges will be India’s batting at the top. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan give India an explosive combination capable of putting an attack under pressure from the opening overs.
All three are part of India’s T20I squad for the series, with Abhishek and Samson among the options at the top and Ishan providing another aggressive left-handed presence.
Hosein admitted that bowling during the powerplay against such a line-up can be particularly demanding, especially for a spinner. With only two fielders allowed outside the circle, batters can attack almost every delivery, making even small mistakes costly.
“I mean you are not scared to bowl in the new world, in fact you relished that challenge. We know India’s T20 top players are top 3, how devastating it looks,” Hosein said.
“I think bowling in the power play in general is pretty scary especially when you are a spinner. You have a short space to work with on the pitch, and then you have two guys out. It is also extra difficult when you have good batting surfaces and these guys who strike at high strike rates,” he added.
West Indies do not have happy memories of playing T20Is in India, having lost all four bilateral series they have played there, once against Afghanistan and three times against India. India whitewashed them 3-0 on both occasions when they toured India in 2018 and 2022.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
