Bhuvneshwar Added to India Squad as Hosts Prepare for T20I Decider

India will aim to correct their batting inconsistencies and secure the five-match T20I series when they face the West Indies in the decisive fifth match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Today. With the series tied 2-2, the hosts face a formidable challenge against a West Indies side that has exceeded expectations with its aggressive batting.

India's top-order and middle-order concerns have persisted despite four high-scoring encounters. Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have delivered individual half-centuries, but their partnerships have lacked consistency. The middle order has also struggled, with Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir failing to capitalise on promising starts. Iyer, who scored 102 in the opening match, has managed just 40, 1 and 16 in his subsequent innings, raising questions about his leadership under pressure.

India's struggles were evident during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad, where the batters failed to maintain the required scoring rate while chasing 248. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy also struggled to find boundaries during a crucial middle-overs period.

India could strengthen their bowling by including Kuldeep Yadav, who was benched for the third and fourth matches. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 36, has been added to the squad as cover after Arshdeep Singh suffered a shoulder injury in the previous match. His availability will depend on Arshdeep's fitness closer to the game.

West Indies captain Shai Hope, with 261 runs, and Sherfane Rutherford, with 221, have been the leading run-scorers in the series. India must dismiss them early to contain the visitors' scoring momentum.

The Bengaluru venue, known for its flat pitch and short boundaries, could produce another batting-friendly contest. However, recent autumn rainfall may affect conditions.

The match begins at 7 pm, with India under greater pressure to win the series while the West Indies look to claim an unexpected triumph.