India vs West Indies 1st T20I: Lucknow Time, Squads and India Viewing

When and where is India vs West Indies first T20I?

India and West Indies begin their five-match men's T20I series on Tuesday 6 October 2026 at 7:00 PM IST, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The BCCI match centre lists 13:30 UTC and the full ground name; the Cricket West Indies tour release independently lists Lucknow for the first T20I. This is a new format after the completed three-match ODI series, not a fourth ODI.

West Indies won the 3 October third ODI by five wickets, according to Cricket West Indies’ results list; that result is context for the changeover, not a T20 series lead. The older ODI series page was a pre-match snapshot. Follow the current first-T20I match centre for the new game.

What changed in India's T20I group: Naman Dhir for Washington Sundar

The BCCI's 16 September original group included Washington Sundar. Its 1 October correction withdrew Sundar from the West Indies T20Is so he could prepare for the upcoming New Zealand Tests through red-ball cricket, including Ranji Trophy fixtures beginning 11 October, and named Naman Dhir as his replacement. The board did not attribute Sundar's T20I absence to an injury; a sensational injury headline would distort the official explanation.

The revised 15-member India T20I group comprises Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson (wicketkeepers), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Naman Dhir. These names describe a board-announced squad, not 15 simultaneous starters or a forecast eleven. The match-day team sheet can change the availability picture.

There were two different BCCI updates in the same release: Prasidh Krishna out, Anshul Kamboj in refers to the third ODI squad; Sundar–Dhir refers to the T20I squad. Mixing these into a single “Lucknow XI injury” report would misidentify both the format and the reason for the change.

West Indies' T20 list is not a copy of its ODI XI

Cricket West Indies' 19 September T20I release names Shai Hope as captain and lists Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer. The board describes Kamil Pooran as a maiden T20I call-up and says Jason Holder was rested. That announcement is an official selection pool, not proof of a debut for Pooran or the final batting order in Lucknow.

CWI said Hetmyer would join for the T20 series after additional recovery time following the CPL; a tour announcement is not proof of match-day selection or fitness. Check the BCCI match page or a confirmed toss sheet before calling any player part of the starting eleven. No specific pitch behaviour, forecast, toss or 6 October score was verified for this preview.

Where the India home-series rights are listed

For viewers in India, rights-holder JioStar's 25 August home-season statement covers the West Indies bilateral series, including five T20Is, on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar. The BCCI homepage labels those services its official broadcaster and official digital streaming partner. Check current channel listings and subscription terms directly; no Vedik Exchange account includes a match feed.

The separate India Champions–South Africa Champions WCL match is listed for 5 PM IST on the same Tuesday at Sharjah. It is a legends competition, not another national-team T20I and not evidence of the same rights. Correct competition identification matters before clicking a stream or score page.

First-T20I questions and primary sources