Last Updated on 15 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
After the West Indies pulled off a miraculous chase of 250 in Ranchi, the series moves to Indore with the T20I series locked at 1-1.
Chasing is reigning supreme during the Windies’ tour of India so far, with Shai Hope producing yet again to lead his team to victory. Sherfane Rutherford is also having an impactful series, while all-rounders Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd showed their value in the second T20I.
For India, there are concerns as to the defensive bowling skills in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Despite Mayank Yadav taking two wickets in the first over and India taking another before the end of the powerplay, their total of 249 was mowed down with more than an over to spare.
Flat pitches and dew certainly play a role, but which bowlers can step up at a ground where another high-scoring match is expected? 501 runs were scored in Ranchi, and who knows how many will fly off the bats at Indore.
IND vs WI 3rd T20 2026 Possible Playing XIs: Nitish Kumar Reddy in?
India could look to play Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shivam Dube. The latter had an unsatisfactory outing in the second T20I.
India: 1. Abhishek Sharma, 2. Sanju Samson (wk), 3. Ishan Kishan, 4. Shreyas Iyer (c), 5. Tilak Varma, 6. Naman Dhir, 7. Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shivam Dube, 8. Axar Patel, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Mayank Yadav, 11. Arshdeep Singh
West Indies could stick with the same XI that won the second T20I.
West Indies: 1. Shai Hope (c & wk), 2. Kamil Pooran, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Rovman Powell, 5. Sherfane Rutherford, 6. Romario Shepherd, 7. Roston Chase, 8. Shamar Springer, 9. Akeal Hosein, 10. Shamar Joseph, 11. Gudakesh Motie
Holkar Cricket Stadium Indore Pitch Report and Weather: Another batting paradise?
Good luck, bowlers. Indore is one of the most batting-friendly grounds for white-ball matches in India. The last three ODIs have seen scores of 399, 385 and 337. The last completed IPL match was 245 against 214. In 2017, Rohit Sharma hammered 118 off 43 balls as India hammered 260 in a T20I against Sri Lanka.
A clear night is forecast with temperatures in the mid 20s after a hot day. Expect dew and the captain who wins the toss to chase.
IND vs WI 3rd T20 Fantasy Cricket Tips: Load up on keepers, batters, all-rounders?
Top wicket-keeper picks:
- Shai Hope is in career-best touch. He has scores of 104, 162*, 52 and 102* in his last four matches on tour. Lock him in as captain especially if the West Indies are chasing.
- Sanju Samson has scores of 97* and 82 in two of his last three T20I matches against West Indies.
- Ishan Kishan hit 43 off 22 balls in the second T20I. Overall in T20s this year, Kishan has smashed 1,687 runs at an average of 39.2 and strike rate of 173.6.
Key batter picks:
- Abhishek Sharma has threatened to go big in this series, without doing so yet. He has scores of 23 (10) and 20 (12) so far. If he gets going on a batting-friendly ground, watch out.
- Sherfane Rutherford is striking at 197.18 in this series with two fifties. Against spin, the left-hander has belted 91 runs off 46 balls.
- Shreyas Iyer hammered an unbeaten century in the opening T20I and followed it up with an 18-ball 40 in Ranchi. He can be a good differential captain in Dream11 as three very capable players bat above him.
Top all-rounder picks:
- Roston Chase was a key reason why the West Indies won the second T20I. He dismissed three left-handers (Abhishek, Ishan, Shivam) and will be key again. Pick at least one of Chase and Romario Shepherd as they offer fantasy value.
- Axar Patel had a difficult outing in Ranchi, but he remains a key bowler for India. He bowls in the crunch overs, and can be a strong fantasy pick especially if India bowl first.
Key bowler picks:
- Kuldeep Yadav will be looking to bounce back after an expensive match. He has the most wickets (20) in IND-WI T20Is at an average of 15.70 and economy of 7.13.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
- Shimron Hetmyer.
- Rovman Powell.
- Arshdeep Singh.
- Mayank Yadav.
- Akeal Hosein.
Other Stats and Important Matchups
- Head-to-head in T20Is: Matches 33, India 21, West Indies 11, N/R 1.
- Shimron Hetmyer is a player who can cause damage. He hit 367 runs at an average of 45.87 and strike rate of 197.31 in CPL 2026.
- Rovman Powell has the fourth-most runs in IND-WI T20Is: 19 inns, 432 runs, avg. 28.80, SR 143.52.
- Akeal Hosein vs. Sanju Samson in all T20s: 30 balls, 61 runs, two wickets.
- Kuldeep Yadav vs. Shimron Hetmyer in all T20s: 33 balls, 40 runs, one wicket.
- Kuldeep Yadav vs. Sherfane Rutherford in all T20s: 31 balls, 52 runs, one wicket.
- Arshdeep Singh vs. Shimron Hetmyer in all T20s: 58 balls, 92 runs, three wickets.
- Axar Patel vs. Shai Hope in all T20s: 44 balls, 76 runs, no wickets.
IND vs WI 3rd T20 2026 Dream11 Prediction Today: Keepers, batters hard to look past
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.
