Kolkata: Before taking to the field, the conflict takes place in the heart. Well, this phrase will stand for two fallen T20I titans. As the much-anticipated India-West Indies T20I series kicks off on Wednesday in Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Do you wonder why? Why there will be an impending conflict while the India-West Indies fans will witness a battle on the field. Because, in parallel to the beginning of the series, a quest between former Indian skipper Virat Kohli and present Indian skipper Rohit Sharma will commence.
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill is presently the highest run-getter in T20I history with 3299 runs in 112 matches followed by Kohli with 3227 runs in 95 T20I appearances. Third-placed Sharma amassed 3197 runs in 119 matches for India.
With three T20Is against the West Indies ahead, the present Indian skipper will have a chance to score 103 runs, while the former Indian captain needed to score 73runs to beat Guptill’s massive world record.
Meanwhile, both of them will also try to conquer the Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s record of 540 runs in 17 matches against the West Indies in the T20s. Rohit, who has had 519 runs in 15 matches, short of 22 runs from Babar’s record, while Kohli, who has had 501 runs in 12 matches against the West Indies, is 40 runs short of the feat.
Talking from the country’s side, if India manage to win the series 3-0 against West Indies, they will have the chance to become the No.1 T20I side in ICC Rankings, dethroning England from the top spot.
Thus, the series stand a chance of witnessing new records and scripting history for India and its players in the cricket fraternity. India to enter the match on the tail of a 3-0 ODI series win against Kieron Pollard’s side in Ahmedabad last week.
