India v West Indies: 1st T20I in Lucknow — Playing XIs and Dream11 tips
India and West Indies will meet in the first T20I of their five-match series at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on October 6, 2026, with the game scheduled to start at 7 PM IST. The T20 series follows a three-match ODI series between the sides.
India arrive for the T20Is fresh from winning gold at the Asian Games 2026 and enter the contest as the top-ranked side in the format, while West Indies secured their highest-ever ODI chase in the final game of the preceding series. Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, and Akeal Hosein are set to return for the West Indies, and expectations are for another high-scoring contest. Forecasts for Lucknow on match evening indicate a humid 30°C with about 65 percent humidity. Ekana Stadium is described as a batting-friendly surface with a flat deck, good bounce and pace, some assistance for spinners later on, and dew that can complicate bowling in the second innings.
These teams have met 31 times in the shorter format; India have won 20 of those matches, West Indies 10, and one encounter was washed out. That head-to-head record is presented in the context of the upcoming five-T20I series.
India’s listed XI for the opener reads: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh. West Indies’ named XI is: Shai Hope (c & wk), Amir Jangoo, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Romario Sherpherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph.
One Dream11 recommendation group lists wicket-keepers Shai Hope and Ishan Kishan; batters Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer; all-rounders Axar Patel and Romario Shepherd; and bowlers Akeal Hosein, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. The same package suggests Shimron Hetmyer as the first-choice captain with Romario Shepherd as the second-choice captain, and vice-captain options of Vaibhav Suryavanshi (first-choice) and Ishan Kishan (second-choice).
An alternate Dream11 combination expands the wicket-keeper options to Shai Hope, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson; repeats Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer among batters; lists all-rounders Roston Chase and Romario Shepherd; and names Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav as bowlers. That lineup recommends Abhishek Sharma as the first-choice captain and Sanju Samson as the second-choice captain, with Shai Hope and Roston Chase as the first- and second-choice vice-captains respectively.
The source notes T20 as West Indies’ strongest format, citing their performance at the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and describing them as possessing big powerhitters, while reiterating India’s top ranking and strong form in the format. On that basis, Khel Now backs India to win the opening T20I, which takes place on October 6, 2026 at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.