India consider Prince Yadav for third T20I against West Indies
India may replace Shivam Dube with Prince Yadav to strengthen their bowling attack for the third T20I in Indore.
India could include Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav in the playing XI for the third T20I against West Indies in Indore on Sunday. The series is locked at 1-1 after West Indies chased down 249 in Ranchi, their highest successful T20I run-chase.
Prince impressed with his bowling in the middle and death overs for LSG in IPL 2026. He is expected to replace all-rounder Shivam Dube, who scored 7 off 10 balls and conceded 30 runs in two overs in the second T20I. India need a proper fifth bowling option to contain Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.
India's likely playing XI features Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav and Mayank Yadav. The match will be played at Holkar Stadium, a venue that has produced an average first-innings score of just under 201 in four previous T20Is.
CricHubb Take
The potential inclusion of Prince Yadav over Dube signals that India have identified death-over control as the decisive variable after West Indies posted 249 in Ranchi. By sacrificing an extra batting option for a specialist pacer who has succeeded in the IPL's middle and death phases, the selectors are acknowledging that 249 may not be enough if the fifth bowler continues to leak runs at eight an over.