In an exciting clash at the Wankhede Stadium, West Indies captain Shai Hope has chosen to bowl first after winning the toss against Nepal. Hope’s decision was influenced by the pitch conditions, which he described as “a little bit more damp than expected,” suggesting that West Indies may capitalize on the early moisture.
Both teams made one adjustment to their lineups ahead of the match. West Indies have replaced fast bowling allrounder Romario Shepherd, who is sidelined with a minor injury, with Matthew Forde stepping into the team as a direct substitute. Meanwhile, Nepal made a strategic change by bringing in fast bowling allrounder Sompal Kami for left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi. Nepal’s captain, Rohit Paudel, expressed confidence that Kami would exploit the conditions more effectively on the surface at Wankhede.
Having played their previous matches at this venue, Nepal is familiar with the unique playing conditions offered by the Wankhede, while West Indies experienced success here in their earlier match against England, albeit under different evening circumstances.
The lineups for both teams are as follows:
West Indies XI: Brandon King, Shai Hope (captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.
Nepal XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wicketkeeper), Rohit Paudel (captain), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami.
The stage is set for an engaging match as both teams look to make their mark in this thrilling encounter. The familiar surroundings and tailored tactics may provide just the edge needed to secure a vital victory.