Chennai, Nov 10 (UNI) With the series already sealed, India might test
its bench strength and aim for a clean sweep, while the battered and
bruised West Indies would be hoping for a face saving victory and sign
off their disastrous tour on a fine note, as the two teams lock horns
in the third and final T-20 International at the M A Chidambaram stadium
here tomorrow.
With the selectors resting key bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and
wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav keeping in mind the tough tour of Australia,
the match would provide a chance for the other players like local lad
and offie Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, uncapped Shahbaz Nadeem
and medium pacer Siddarth Kaul, drafted into the side for the final match,
to make a mark.
The crowd favourite M S Dhoni, for whom Chennai was a second home,
might not be present, but sportive fans would root for Skipper Rohit Sharma
who was in sublime having lit up the Deepavali crowd in Lucknow with his
fireworks e route to his fourth T-20 century, the maximum by an Indian,
that helped the home take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Tomorrow's contest provides one last chance for players like Shikhar
Dhawan, K L Rahul, local star Dinesh Karthik and others to be among
the runs and be in good form before embarking for the tour Down Under.
Apart from Bhuvanesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed who have performed well
in the earlier matches, would be the pace spearheads, while Krunal
Pandya and another wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was expected to
replace Kuldeep, to lead the spin front.
MORE UNI GV CS 1645