ICC World Twenty20: India vs West Indies, warm-up match - Preview

In practice match, eyes would be on Indian seamer Mohammed Shami, who has to prove his match fitness.

New Delhi: Favourites India are set for the dress rehearsals of ICC World T20 as they take on dark horses West Indies in a warm-up fixture on Thursday at Eden Gardens.

India are in a fine form as they have won ten off their last eleven T20 fixtures.

But in the practice match, eyes would be on Indian seamer Mohammed Shami, who has to prove his match fitness.

Skipper MS Dhoni's playing XI is almost well settles. It means, warm-up matches would be an opportunity for the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh and Pawan Negi to prove a point.

India's 2nd and last warm-up game is against robust South Africa in Mumbai on March 12.

On the other hand, West Indies have come to the tournament without their big names of this format Kieron Pollard (injury), Sunil Narine (suspension), Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons (injury).

But, West Indies can take heart from the fact that they still have cricketers in their side, who are being the most sought-after in T20s and have played all over the world in different franchise leagues.

Teams (from)

India: MS Dhoni (capt), R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (wk), Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor and Evin Lewis.

Match starts 7.30 IST.

(With Agency inputs)