Shai Hope Returns to West Indies T20I Squad for India Series

West Indies: Shai Hope, the team's ODI captain, has been called back to the West Indies T20I lineup for the upcoming five-match series against India.

Hope's final game for the West Indies in the format was also against India last year. However, over the past year or so, the 29-year-old has significantly improved his performance in white-ball formats.

Hope's strike rate in ODI cricket this year has been 96.75, which is impressive considering that he was regarded as being one-dimensional.

Since his debut in 2016, his strike rate in a single calendar year has never exceeded 80, demonstrating the advancement he has made despite currently batting at No. 4 in the order.

In addition to Hope, fast bowler Oshane Thomas has also been called up to the T20I squad for the India series after recently returning to the ODI setup.

Shimron Hetmyer, who missed the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, will strengthen the squad. Nicholas Pooran, who recently smashed an incredible century in the inaugural MLC final, will also strengthen the two-time champions.

"The squad is selected with the next ICC Men's T20 World Cup in mind," lead Selector Desmond Haynes said. "We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations. As we prepare; we are looking to build a unit which we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year. We have some match-winners in our line-up and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday.”

"We also have other players who could come into consideration going forward, with the Caribbean Premier League starting next month, others will come into the reckoning."

Additionally, Cricket West Indies has confirmed that all 15 members of the team, which is captained by Rovman Powell, will attend all five contests. For every game, a 13-man squad will be chosen, from which an XI will be chosen.

Two days after the ODI series ends, on August 3, the five-match series begins. The two teams will travel to Florida in the United States for the series' final two games on August 12 and 13, following the first three games.