India and West Indies set for Lucknow T20I opener

India and West Indies are scheduled to open a five-match T20I series in Lucknow on October 6, with the first match set for 7 p.m. IST at Ekana Cricket Stadium. The supplied previews and series information establish the fixture and teams’ preparations, but do not report a result or confirm the final playing XIs. Shreyas Iyer is named captain of India, while Shai Hope will lead West Indies. India’s published squad list does not include fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Washington Sundar was withdrawn from the squad, with Naman Dhir named as his replacement, according to the team information in the reports. The teams enter the series after the ODI leg of their contest. West Indies’ recent one-day performances included consecutive centuries by Hope, while the series previews described India as having recent success in T20 cricket. Those assessments provide context for the opener, but do not determine how either side will perform in Lucknow. India have the stronger overall record in the matchup, with 20 wins in 31 T20I meetings. West Indies have won 10, and one match ended without a result.