Lucknow: The first match of the five-match T20I series between India and the West Indies will be played in Lucknow. Both teams will take the field aiming to begin the series with a win. India have recently returned after winning the gold medal at the Asian Games and will be high on confidence, while the West Indies have also made headlines by successfully chasing a target of more than 350 runs in an ODI. With both sides in good form, an interesting and closely contested encounter is expected.

India’s last T20I in Lucknow was also a much-discussed match. In that game at the Ekana Stadium, New Zealand were bowled out for just 99 runs. However, India took 119 balls to chase the modest target of 100. Eventually, Team India won the match by six wickets. This time, though, Lucknow could witness a high-scoring contest.

In the days leading up to the match, rainfall in Lucknow and several parts of northern India has caused the water level of the Gomti River to rise. Water has also accumulated at some places around the stadium. However, the ground has an effective drainage system, and the playing surface is currently completely dry. As a result, there is not expected to be any major disruption due to waterlogging or rain during the match.

Light rain is possible in Lucknow during the daytime on Tuesday, but the weather is expected to remain clear in the evening, with little to no chance of rain. Humidity levels, however, are likely to remain high, which could lead to dew later in the night.

If dew sets in, bowlers and fielders could find it difficult to grip the ball. For this reason, the team winning the toss may opt to bowl first. The same trend was seen in the ODI series between India and the West Indies, with all three matches being won by the team batting second.

The Lucknow pitch could offer some assistance to fast bowlers during the opening overs. If there is light rain before the match, the new ball could provide pacers with additional swing and movement. However, once the ball gets older, batting could become easier and big shots may be easier to play. In such conditions, a total of around 200 runs could be on the cards in this contest.