India, West Indies in battle of equals in series-finale at Wankhede

India will have to address many inadequacies laid bare by a resolute West Indies in second T20 International when two teams made up of power-hitters square off in what promises to be an enthralling series-finale here on Wednesday. rubber is locked 1-1 after two-time world champions West Indies turned on style in second T20 International in Thiruvananthapuram following a Virat Kohli special in lung-opener in Hyderabad. For India, focus will once again be on young guns like off-spinner Washington Sundar and under-fire wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.

spotlight on Pant, especially, has been obsessive and it is expected to be different when team takes field at Wankhede Stadium.  As for Sundar, it would be interesting to see wher team manment persists with him or gives chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav a game. Sundar has taken only three wickets in last five T20s that he has played (two against West Indies and three against Bangladesh) and leaked 144 runs in 23 overs that he bowled. He also ended up wicket-less in two T20 Internationals against South Africa.  Sundar's fielding is ar aspect about which skipper Virat Kohli would be worried. In last game, he dropped a sitter of Lendl Simmons, whose 45-ball 67 laid foundation of West Indies' eight-wicket triumph.

Kuldeep last played a T20 against New Zealand in Hamilton back in February. He warmed benches in first two games. For Pant also things are only getting tougher. focus on him has been unrelenting and it won't be easy for him to regain early form that made him seem like Mahendra Singh Dhoni's heir apparent.  Coming in at .4, Pant made scores of 33 t out, 18, 6, 27, 19, 4 in last seven T20s that he featured in. His last T20 fifty came against West Indies in August, in Providence. With likes of Sanju Samson waiting in wings, Pant will have to come good sooner than later.  

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But in overall analysis, India's batting has never been a problem. Opener Rohit Sharma, who had a rare-twin failure, would be raring to go before his home crowd. K L Rahul and skipper Kohli are also among runs. Shivam Dube, who slammed his maiden T20 fifty, showed he can hit towering sixes and he would want to perform before his home crowd and so Shreyas Iyer. However, bowling is a slight concern. A profligate pace duo of Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leaked runs in first two matches. Chahar had a memorable series against Bangladesh but has t mand to repeat show this time around. With Mohammed Shami around, Chahar will have to step up.  Also, India's fielding was way below par. dropped catches and several mis-fields prompted Kohli to say if performance does t improve, score would be eugh.  hosts are also good chase-masters but will need to learn how to defend targets.

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On or hand, West Indies will also fancy ir chances to clinch series after terrific comeback. ir top-order batsmen, particularly Simmons, are in splendid form. Also likes of Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetymar are among runs and y will look to continue form. Add to it, firepower of Brandon King, Jason Holder and skipper Kieron Pollard, West Indies can look unbeatable on ir day. Even ir bowlers, including pacer Sheldon Cottrell, are among wickets. Along with Cottrell, Kesrick Williams, leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr and Holder, will have to bowl in right areas to stem flow of runs. West Indies also have fond memories of playing T20s at Wankhede as in 2016 ICC World Cup semi-final, y defeated India and went on to win title.   

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Teams

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul,  Rishabh Pant, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson.

West Indies: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Brandon King, Denesh Ramdin, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rurford, Shimron Hetmyer, Khary Pierre, Lendl Simmons, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh Jr, Keemo Paul, Kesrick Williams.

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