India and New Zealand Participate in Traditional Māori Greeting Before T20 Series Start

In the four T20 matches of the series between India and West Indies, which concluded on Wednesday (October 14) with India losing by 24 runs and the series tied at 2-2, the fifth and decisive match will take place in Bangalore on Saturday (October 17). This match will determine the winner of the series.

However, throughout the first four encounters of this T20 series between India and West Indies, Vaibha Suryavanshi was not in the starting lineup, although he was often present with the team during water breaks. This raised several questions regarding the reasons for his absence from the squad. He is likely to be on the bench again in the fifth T20 in Bangalore.

Vaibha's international career began on July 4, 2026, in Manchester against England in a T20, although he had previously participated in the tour of Ireland but did not receive playing time. To date, Vaibha has played 8 T20 matches, scoring 246 runs at an average of 30.75.

However, one statistic emerged: under Gautam Gambhir's leadership, Vaibha was given less playing time than when VVS Laxman served as the head coach of the Indian team.

Vaibha was first selected for the tour of Ireland, where two matches were held, both lost by the Indian team, but he did not play. His debut occurred in the second match of the five-match series on the tour of England. England won this series 4-0, and the first T20 in Chester-Le-Street was a draw.

During the tour of England, Vaibha played in three T20 matches in Manchester, Nottingham, and Bristol, scoring 42 runs at an average of 14. His strike rate was 168.

Next followed the tour of Zimbabwe, where Sandeep Samson was not part of the squad. Consequently, Vaibha was given the opportunity to start alongside Abhishek Sharma. In this series, Vaibha made a splash, becoming the 'Player of the Series' and scoring 151 runs in three matches at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10. It is worth noting that for this tour in July 202, former Indian player VVS Laxman was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team.

This was followed by a three-match T20 series at home against Afghanistan, in which Vaibha Suryavanshi did not participate in any match. Then came a T20 international match against Japan, where Vaibha also did not play, and VVS Laxman was the head coach then.

Subsequently, the Asian Games 2026 took place, where the quarter-final against Afghanistan was cancelled. After this, India defeated Sri Lanka and then Pakistan in the semi-finals and final, winning the gold medal. Against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Vaibha played, scoring 38 and 15 runs respectively.

Thus, since Vaibha was included in the Indian squad, the team has played 21 matches. Gautam Gambhir acted as coach in 14 matches, while VVS Laxman coached in 7 matches. Including the T20 in Bangalore on Saturday, the total number of T20s in which Vaibha will be in the squad will reach 22.

The fourth match of the five-match T20I series between India and West Indies will take place in Hyderabad on Wednesday, October 14. The Indian team leads the series 2-1, and after winning the third match in Indore, the team aims to strengthen its advantage. Meanwhile, the West Indies team is trying to get back into the game and level the score.

In the presumed starting lineup for India, Sanju Samson might start alongside Abhishek Sharma. In that case, young player Vaibhav Suryavanshi is likely to remain on the bench again. Sanju will also play as a batter-bowler. Ishan Kishan could feature at number three in the attack, and captain Shreyas Iyer at number four.

Tilak Verma, Naman Dheer, and Nitish Kumar Reddy are expected to bolster the middle order. This match will be particularly important for Tilak, as he is a local resident of Hyderabad. Regarding bowling, Axar Patel might play alongside Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh. The decision made in Indore to bring in an extra fast bowler instead of Kuldeep Yadav might be retained by the coaching staff. Thus, Vaibhav is likely to sit on the bench again, and Sanju Samson will start the game once more.

The pitch in Hyderabad is known for producing big scores. Over the last two years in the IPL, scores such as 310, 297, 286, and 277 have been recorded here. Four of the top eight scores in T20 cricket in India were achieved on this very ground. Although the pitch has recently been restored, batters still have good chances of scoring runs.

The situation for bowlers might become complicated if dew falls. According to meteorological department forecasts, there is no probability of the match being washed out due to rain. In six matches played in this tour, only one was won by the defending team. India achieved such a result in Indore.

The team hopes the pitch will offer some assistance to the bowlers so that even if they lose the toss and have to bat first, they can defend their score.

An exciting confrontation is anticipated in this match between Abhishek Sharma and West Indies spinner Roston Chase. Chase played a crucial role in the victory over India in Ranchi. He took wickets from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer. He uses a hard length and yorker, bowling over the top against left-handed batters.

Nevertheless, in Indore, Abhishek brilliantly countered Chase. After checking the ball in the first over, he occupied his position and hit two sixteenths and one fourth off Chase's deliveries. Against Chase, Abhishek scored 25 runs off 13 balls, losing his wicket twice. Hyderabad is Abhishek's home IPL ground.

Abhishek is the batter who fastest reached 2000 runs in T20 International, achieving it in 1024 balls and breaking the previous record of 1164 balls.

Furthermore, Naman Dheer has five international wickets, all taken immediately after the sixteenth over.

The West Indies team will be concerned about the condition of Romario Shepherd, who sustained an injury during the Ranchi game. Although he played in that game, he was excluded from the squad in Indore. In Ranchi, he scored 34 not out runs off 13 balls.

Presumed West Indies squad: Shy Hope (bowler, captain), Kamil Purran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd/Quentin Samson, Roston Chase, Sharf Springer, Kimo Paul, Sharf Joseph, and Gudakesh Motie.

Presumed India squad: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (bowler), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Naman Dheer, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh.