- Name: West Indies
- Captain: Kieron Pollard
- Head Coach: Phil Simmons
- Squad members: 15+4
- Best result: Champions in 2012, 2016
- WT20 2016 result: Champions!
The only team to have two ICC T20 World Cup titles in their trophy cabinet, West Indies is always a favourites going into a shorter format tournament. Let me remind you that they have hitters even at #7 and #8 and clearing the fence is never a problem for them. Most recently, they played host to the mighty Australians and beat them 4-1 in a T20 series but then lost 1-0 to Pakistan in a 4-match rain-affected bilateral series.
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As usual, they’ve had some big name exclusions from their 2021 T20 World Cup squad, including the likes of Sunil Narine and Jason Holder. Now Holder has made the reserves and has every chance of making the playing eleven while Narine failed the preliminary fitness test and even after he bagged a 4-fer in an important Eliminator game in the IPL 2021 playoffs, the WI captain ensured that Narine will still not be drafted into the West Indies squad!
The captain is Kieron Pollard who has been leading well and is coming off a full season for Mumbai Indians in the UAE, so he’s accustomed to these. With a best score of 21 in seven games in UAE during IPL 2021, we don’t think he’ll be of much use with the bat but you can expect him to bring himself on to bowl and take a few wickets. As usual, the team is sweating the fitness of Andre Russell, which increases Holder’s chances of making the team.
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Russell hasn’t played the last few matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 and even if he gets 100% fit, the chances of picking up another injury at the T20 World Cup are high. Someone who has earned their place in this West Indies side is Roston Chase who was always regarded as a Test player but all of a sudden, he’s a threat after a CPL 2021 season which saw him picking up 10 wickets and scoring 446 runs in just 12 games!
He’s sure to find a place in the team while I’d like to see better contributions from Fabian Allen. A live-wire in the field, he bowls a tight line and can hit a long ball too. He usually puts in vital contributions but is yet to unleash his complete potential at the highest stage. This is surely his chance to do so. Usually known for their fast bowling brigade, Windies have the chance of going in for another spinner in Hayde Walsh Jr.
For the first time, West Indies is coming into an ICC tournament with more spinners than pacers. On the fast bowling front, Oshane Thomas, Obed McCoy and Ravi Rampaul are set to all making the playing eleven. It’s a fabulous story for Rampaul who picked 19 wickets in 10 games at CPL 2021 to find a place in this West Indies squad. The 36-year old last played a T20 international in November 2015 and it’ll be interesting to see i he can pick wickets at this stage too.
West Indies – T20 World Cup 2021 Betting
He’s 36 years old and he’s not the only aging player in the squad with Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo also a part of the tournament. Bravo comes into the squad after a successful season with Chennai Super Kings at IPL 2021 while Gayle left the tournament mid-way because of bubble fatigue and wanting to prepare for the World Cup. On the other hand, Nicholas Pooran had a forgettable time in UAE, with 57 runs in 5 games in IPL 2021.
Evin Lewis is going to be their trump card with the bat because he’s in pretty good form himself and he did a great job in a few games for Rajasthan Royals. He’s also pretty accustomed to conditions here now and he’s got a few options of opening partners. Andre Fletcher makes a comeback to the squad while Lendl Simmons would be the go-to first pick as well, being a part of the squad that won the 2016 T20 World Cup.
WEST INDIES T20 World Cup 2021 squad: Kieron Pollard (C), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr. RESERVES: Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein.
While this team looks pretty good on paper, they’ve got a few really tough matches lined up when they play the Super League stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup. While two games are still TBD, their three scheduled games are against 50-over champions England, followed by matches against South Africa and Australia. If they get past these well, we’d fancy their chances to go all the way in this major ICC event.
For more updates on the progress of West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2021, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
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