India vs West Indies: 1st T20I to be played behind closed doors; crowd likely for final two fixtures

After whitewashing West Indies in the three-match ODI series, Rohit Sharma-led India are all set to play as many T20Is, starting from 16 February. All three games will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. While the ODI series was played without spectators, the T20I series was expected to have the audience in the house. But if recent reports are to be believed, the first T20I can be played behind closed doors.

According to a recent report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the Cricket Association of Bengal’s (CAB) request has allowed only upper tier and hospitality boxes for sponsors for the first match while the next two games will see spectators cheering for their team. Earlier, CAB had agreed to allow spectators at the Eden Gardens for all three games.

“The BCCI has allowed only upper tier and hospitality boxes for sponsors and representatives for the first match,” CAB said in a statement as quoted as saying by rediff.com. “CAB will intimate all stakeholders once it receives feedback from the board,” it stated further.

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India start T20 World Cup preparations

While the ODI series was about testing the young guns and forming a settled squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup, the T20I series is being seen as a preparation for the T20 World Cup. After failing to qualify for the knockout stages at the 2021 T20 World Cup, India saw a change in leadership as Rohit Sharma took the charge in white-ball cricket.

India beat New Zealand immediately after the T20 World Cup under Sharma and now they will look to do the same against West Indies. With only a few months left for the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma and Co. will look to form a settled squad that can take on any opposition on any given day. Also, this will be India’s first shortest format series this year.

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West Indies, on the other hand, will look to bounce back from the ODI series defeat and challenge India on their own turf. West Indies have a settled squad in T20Is as compared to ODIs and thus they will fancy their chances against the mighty Indians. Pollard, who was out with injury in the last two ODIs, is expected to resume his captaincy duties when the first match takes place on Wednesday.