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Will underperforming Pant be left out of 3rd T20I?

Last updated on: August 06, 2019 11:19 IST

Rishabh Pant has struggled in the first two T20Is vs West Indies with scores of 4 and 0

IMAGE: Rishabh Pant has struggled in the first two T20Is vs West Indies with scores of 4 and 0. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

With the T20I series in the pocket, India are likely to experiment with their line-up in pursuit of a whitewash when they take on an embattled West Indies in the third and final T20 International in Guyana on Tuesday.

India concluded the two-match US leg of the series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead after notching up a 22-run win in the second game on Sunday.

Their performance wasn't the most fluent in the first match but Virat Kohli and his men were back to being a dominant force in the second match, though, the outcome was decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method after thunderstorms and consequent rain did not allow the game to continue.

While the batting line-up may not change much, India may try a new combination in bowling.

"...sealing the series gives the chance to bring few guys in. Idea is always going to be to win first. But winning the first two games gives the cushion," Kohli said after Sunday's win.

It will not be a surprise if KL Rahul is drafted into the Playing XI, replacing the struggling Rishabh Pant. The young Delhi batsman managed scores of 4 and 0 in the first two matches.

Skipper Kohli has backed Pant to the hilt and it will be interesting to see if the 21-year-old rising star gets another chance.

Kieron Pollard top-scored for West Indies in the first T20 with 49 runs and more will be expected of him if the hosts are save face

IMAGE: Kieron Pollard top-scored for West Indies in the first T20 with 49 runs and more will be expected of him if the hosts are save face in the T20 series. Photograph: Windies Cricket/Twitter

Neither Rohit Sharma nor Shikhar Dhawan are likely to be rested.

For Dhawan, it's his first series after missing the World Cup due to a thumb fracture and since he has not scored many runs in the first two matches, he will be eager to get some before the ODIs and Tests.

There is a strong possibility that leg-break bowler Rahul Chahar may make the cut in place of young paceman Navdeep Saini.

Deepak Chahar, cousin of Rahul, may also find a place in the Playing XI and Ravindra Jadeja could be the one who is rested.

For the hosts, putting up a coherent performance remains a challenge. Considered a force in the shortest format, they have not lived up to their reputation.

The likes of Kieron Pollard and skipper Carlos Brathwaite are due a big knock.

If they can manage to walk away with a win on Tuesday, it will be a confidence-booster for them ahead of the ODIs and Tests.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini.

West Indies: John Campbell, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicolas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite (c), Keemo Paul, Sunil Narine, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Anthony Bramble, Jason Mohammed, Khary Pierre.

Match starts 8pm IST.