India vs West Indies 1st T20I Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 06/12/2019
India will be looking to end 2019 on a high note when they welcome West Indies for three T20 and three One Day International fixtures.
The hosts will be looking to warm up for the Aussies, who visit in January 2020, by first putting the Windies to the sword in limited-overs cricket. The two sides will first clash in a T20 in Hyderabad.
India vs West Indies – 1st T20I – Match Preview
Where: Rajiv International Stadium, Hyderabad
When: Friday 6th December
Start Time: 19:00 (IST), 13:30 (GMT)
India vs West Indies 1st T20I – Latest Odds
India are currently the 1.29 (2/7) favourites with Betway to win the series opener following Test Match and T20 series victories over Bangladesh last month.
Meanwhile, West Indies, priced at 3.25 (9/4), go into the contest on the back of disappointing defeats against Afghanistan.
India vs West Indies 1st T20I – Team News
There is no bigger news for India than the return of Virat Kohli.
The skipper missed the three T20s against Bangladesh as he looked to manage his workload following a busy 2019.
His return follows news that batsman Shikhar Dhawan misses out after injuring his knee in action for Delhi against Maharashtra in November. Dhawan’s absence saw Sanju Samson called into the squad and could also see KL Rahul move up to open.
An interesting side note to this first T20 battle between India and the West Indies is the fact that Rohit Sharma is just one six away from reaching 400 sixes across all formats.
He needs just one more to make the major milestone and become the first Indian in a prestigious club that includes former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and West Indies’ Chris Gayle, who have smashed 476 and 534 respectively.
For the West Indies, they will be without both Shai Hope and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. Both men have been dropped from these three T20 fixtures following the defeat to Afghanistan.
Nicholas Pooran remains absent until the second T20I following his suspension for ball tampering.
However, Denesh Ramdin (hamstring) and Fabien Allen (knee) are both fit again after missing the Afghanistan loss.
India vs West Indies T20I – Betting Tips
With this being the first of three T20s between the sides, the bookmakers have made India the overwhelming favourites.
Shreyas Iyer to build on impressive cameos against Bangladesh
Exciting batsman Shreyas Iyer looks to be the value bet in the India top batsman market for the first T20 against West Indies in Hyderabad.
The 24-year-old right-handed batsman from Mumbai looked in fine form in the first two T20 clashes with Bangladesh.
First he smashed a quick-fire 22 off 13 balls as his side tasted a seven-wicket defeat in the opening contest in Delhi. He followed that with an unbeaten 24 off 13 balls as India levelled the series with an eight-wicket success in Rajkot.
However, it was his performance in the third and final game in Nagpur that really caught the eye. His 62 off 33 balls swung the match back into India’s favour to help them to a 30-run victory.
If India’s opening partnership should struggle early against the West Indies bowling attack, it could open up the chances for Iyer to hit the spotlight once again. He is currently priced at 11/2 with Betway.
The chances of that happening could be increased due to the absence of Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order due to a knee injury. It means KL Rahul could well be shifted up the order after batting at three against Bangladesh.
Virat Kohli’s return to the side will also see him dominate the Top Indian Batsman market and offer more value elsewhere.
Kesrick Williams is good value to lead the West Indies attack
The Windies go into the match on the back of a disappointing T20 defeat against Afghanistan but that was more down to their failure with the bats rather than the ball.
With that in mind, it’s hard to look beyond Kesrick Williams in the Top West Indies Bowler market.
The 29-year-old took eight wickets over the three-game T20 series with Afghanistan and is priced at 7/2 with Betway to be his side’s main threat once more.
For India, the variations of Deepak Chahar are likely to prove too much for the West Indies and it’s hard not to be tempted by the 7/2 about him to be his side’s top bowler. The 27-year-old medium-pacer only made his T20 debut last year but looks to be finding his feet with 14 wickets in his last seven matches and should be able to add to that total here, especially on the back of his six-wicket wonder haul in the final T20 against Bangladesh in Nagpur.
Best Bet: Shreyas Iyer India Top Batsman at 6.50 (11/2) with Betway
December 06, 2019 
13:30 
