India consider 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for 1st T20I against West Indies in Lucknow

India face the West Indies in the first T20I at the Ekana cricket stadium in Lucknow on October 6, 2026, with selectors weighing the possibility of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi featuring. Morne Morkel stressed that even without regular game time, spending time around senior players will help the youngster develop.

Naman Dhir is also in contention and could be making his T20I debut. It has been a memorable month for the Punjab all-rounder. First he made his ODI debut, now in the shortest format. He was given the cap by Arshdeep Singh earlier in the day.

Arshdeep Singh is the most experienced bowling option available to India. Mayank Yadav returns from injury and Prince Yadav offers another emerging option. Nitish Kumar Reddy provides additional seam-bowling depth. India will be looking to these choices to address questions around their death-overs bowling.

India are still weighing their best combination ahead of the opener. The five-match series gives India a chance to build depth around their established core. West Indies arrive with renewed belief after ending the ODI series with a convincing win.

India begin their post-Asian Games T20I campaign against West Indies in Lucknow, with Shreyas Iyer leading a side that will be tested without Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah's absence immediately puts the spotlight on India's pace attack.