West Indies v India Third T20 Tips: Casual India there for the taking

Ed Hawkins
02 August 2022
2:30 min read

Rohit wasn't bothered about winning

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Ed Hawkins was unimpressed by the tourists in game two as he picks out a 50/1 wager for West Indies v India from Warner Park on Tuesday...

"West Indies like to promote a hitter, particularly if batting first. Jason Holder went in at No 3 in game one. So Smith is eyecatching at a whopping 50/1. He has batted at No 4"

(0.25pts) Back Odean Smith top West Indies bat 51.050/1

West Indies v India
Tuesday 2 August 17.00
TV: live on BT Sport

Windies hit back

West Indies levelled the series in Basseterre. It was a surprising success in the context of how it was achieved. On a historically flat wicket, it was the bowlers who did the job.

Bowling first they managed to restrict India to just 138. Obed McCoy was man of the match for extraordinary figures of 6 for 13. In between Odean Smith still managed to go round the park off his four overs. It may be time for him to move on to become a specialist batter.

In reply, Brandon King held the chase together with a fifty. It was more fraught than it should have been and they were grateful for Devon Thomas' late hitting.

The hosts are likely to be unchanged. That means Shamarh Brooks and Keemo Paul, both left out from game one, watch from the sidelines.

Probable XI: King, Mayers, Pooran, Hetmyer, Powell, Thomas, Smith, Holder, Akeal, Joseph, McCoy,

India not bothered

Pre-series we noted India's potential appetite for experimenting. We thought this would be kept to selection of the XI, rather than in-play decisions which made absolutely no sense.

Despite a dreadful bating show, India somehow managed to give themselves a squeak. With 10 to defend off the last six Rohit Sharma decided to toss the ball to Avesh Khan who had gone for 19 off his first two overs instead of their best bowler, Bhuv Kumar who had conceded 12 off two.

Who knows what Rohit will try this time? Rohit dismissed it as "just one game". With such a casual attitude to the result few punters will be impressed.

Presumably there will be plenty of changes in personnel. Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda are all in the frame having not played yet. Which XI they select is therefore guess work.

Possible XI: Rohit, Ishan, Hooda, Yadav, Pant, Hardik, Jadeja, Axar, Arshdeep, Avesh, Bishnoi

Pitch report

The scorecard for game two from Basseterre suggests a sluggish surface. Struggles for renowned fast scorers like Hardik Pandya and Ravi Jadeja pont to a surface which didn't allow players to hit freely through the line.

This is in contrast to the recent data. In the CPL last year, Warner Park produced 16 first-innings scores of 160 or more from 33. That meakes un anxious about playing the runs markets. Has a completely different type of wicket been prepared? Was it just a bad day at the office for India? The runs line is here.

It could be best to wait for game three for this market where we know exactly what we will get in Lauderhill.

India a disgrace

West Indies are 2.6613/8 with India 1.608/13. West Indies have taken a cut but that is perfectly understandable given what went off in the second match.

A bet on the hosts is justifiable purely on the grounds of attitude. It was quite extraordinary to hear Rohit defend his tactics by claiming that the result was not important.

If India think they can just turn it on at will, then they are playing a dangerous game. Either way, they stink the place out at such short odds against a competitive Windies team. At the least we expect West Indies to hit favourite status at 1.9520/21 so a trade is on. Bet the match odds here

Tops value

Rohit has been boosted to 3/1 for top India bat. He is a player who grows into a series and now could be the time to post something sizeable. Shimron Hetmyer has been boosted to 7/2 for top Windies but it's a poor offer.

Other prices of interest include Hooda at 7s. he could bat at No 3 and has done very recently. Rishabh Pant may get the chance to open - he did so against England - and is 9/2.

West Indies like to promote a hitter, particularly if batting first. Jason Holder went in at No 3 in game one. So Smith is eyecatching at a whopping 50/1. He has batted at No 4. Akeal Hosein is overpriced at 100/1 even if he's carded at No 9. He has the potential to bat at No 7 and could be used as a pinch hitter. Bet the Sportsbook markets here