India vs Windies preview: Andre Russell ruled out of first T20I in Florida

From India tour of West Indies onwards, Rishabh Pant will have more responsibility with the selectors backing him as the number one wicketkeeper in all formats. Check playing 11, match timings here

India cricket team will start prepararing for T20I World Cup, when they take on Windies cricket team in first T20 International (T20I) match of three-match series at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill in Florida, USA. Before leaving for Caribbean Islands, India captain Virat Kohli pointed out, the main objective of the T20s and the subsequent ODI series against the West Indies is to try out fringe players who are on selectors' mind. Kohli was expected to be rested for the limited-overs leg of the tour but a full-strength squad has been picked barring the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah who will join the side ahead of the Test series beginning August 22. All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been rested for the entire tour. However, West Indies were jolted with major setback as their star all-rounder Andre Russell was ruled out from first of the three match T20 series due to injury.

Check India tour of Windies tour schedule and news here
 
Can Iyer, Pandey solve india’s middle order conundrum?
 
It will be a crucial couple of weeks for Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey, who are back in the mix after being sidelined from India's ICC cricket world cup plans. Pandey last played for India in November 2019 and Iyer in February 2018. With India looking to solidify their brittle middle-order in ODIs, both batsmen have a good opportunity to make their case in the coming six games. Both Pandey and Iyer, who were part of the recently-concluded A series in the Caribbean, come into the senior team with runs under their belt.
 
Pandey and Iyer record in recently concluded India A tour of Caribbean Islands
 
Team India news

Spin all-rounder Washington Sundar and pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar are also back in the T20 squad while speedster Navdeep Saini and Deepak's brother Rahul are in line to make their India debut. With Rohit Sharma and a fit-again Shikhar Dhawan set to open, the number four spot seems likely to be occupied by K L Rahul, who has fond memories of the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, having scored an unbeaten 110 in his last innings here almost three years ago.
 
Is Rohit-Virat rift rumours make any impact?
 
Rohit was the top-scorer in the World Cup, with a record five hundreds, and would be keen to carry that form amid the off-field drama of a speculated rift with Kohli, who has categorically denied any differences with his deputy.